Baxter Regional Pulse Magazine August 2022

A PUBLICATION OF BAXTER REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

624 Hospital Drive, Mtn. Home, AR 72653 870-508-1000 baxterregional.org

SUMMER 2022

VOLUME 5 | ISSUE 3

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 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

VP/Ancillary Services

Anthony Reed

PULSE EDITORIAL

Executive Editor

Tobias Pugsley

Associate Editors

Leah Dewey and Adrienne Koehn

Contributing Writers

Dwain Hebda and Deborah Stanuch

Contributing Copy Editor Melinda Lanigan

Contributing Photographer Jason Masters, Kevin Pieper 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.

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.

Letter from the President &

A COMMON GOAL

AS WITH MOST COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS, A HOSPITAL HAS MANY MOVING PARTS. Each part is essential and does a specific job, yet all the parts work together to perform certain functions. Without our doctors, nurses, auxiliary staff, support staff and volunteers, Baxter would not be what it is today: a highly successful health system, independent, strong and expanding to better care for the community it serves by addressing today’s healthcare challenges head-on.

One of those challenges has been a nursing shortage, but the community of Mountain Home and Baxter Regional Medical Center have teamed together to address this shortage with a two-fold approach. The first is recruiting experienced talent from an international nursing program; the second is a collaboration between the local high school, community college and employers such as Baxter Regional. These programs are geared toward high school students with a passion for en tering the healthcare field. As an added advantage, the students can graduate from the program without generating debt thanks to the high school courses and scholarships through Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation.

In this issue of Pulse, we provide a behind-the-scenes look into Ancillary Services, headed by its new chief Anthony Reed. Ancillary Services, which consists of roughly 540 employees in multiple departments, provides sup port services to the health system and is a massive responsibility made up of many moving parts. For Reed, it all comes back to serving the patient. “My philosophy has always been that I take care of the people that take care of the patients. If I take great care of my team, great patient care and outcomes will be the result of it.”

Also read about the Yellow Army — a group of volunteers who serves as the first person a patient sees when they arrive and the last who bids them good bye as they leave. As impressive as their combined number of volunteer hours is (64,000 hours in 2021), their ability to fundraise and create an endowment for the hospital in record time is astounding. Spearheaded by Carolyn Han non, this “can-do spirit” from the volunteers made it possible to achieve their goal of raising $1 million for their hospital endowment in just six years. Quite a feat, to say the least.

We also give you insights into managing diabetes through the Reppell Diabetes Clinic, formerly the Reppell Diabetes Learning Center. Along these lines, we also provide healthy recipes as well as advice on incorporating a workout regimen to help control the disease. As always, our Community Houses provide programs and information with the goal of making our community the healthiest it can be.

All of these departments, their multiple functions and tasks, all have but one goal in mind — to provide compassionate care beyond measure. It’s our hospital culture and is something we all believe in. It’s put into practice every day in every department here at Baxter Regional. It’s what makes the Baxter Difference.

RON PETERSON

President/Chief Executive Officer

Baxter Regional Medical Center

Thanks,

CEO

PHOTO: COURTESY OF BAXTER REGIONAL

“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands — one for helping your self, the other for helping others.”

— Audrey Hepburn

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 ap pears 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 photog raphy can be found in such publications as Teen Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, Texas Monthly, The Knot and The Wall Street Journal, among many others.

Ashlee Nobel GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Ashlee Nobel is a graphic designer and illustrator with a background in publication design. After working her way up to Creative Director over two magazines in Little Rock, she set out on her own to freelance and focus on her art, creating Lee Lee Arts + Design. When she’s not drawing or designing she enjoys gardening, biking and reading.

Kevin Pieper PHOTOGRAPHER

Kevin Pieper a na tional award-win ning photographer, writer and speaker with more than 25 years of experience. Kevin has published in Reader’s Digest, several National Geo graphic publications, Mother Earth News, New York Times and USA TODAY, just to name a few. Kevin lives in north-central Arkansas in the heart of the Ozarks. You can find him at pieperphoto.com.

Melinda Lanigan COPY EDITOR

Melinda Lanigan is married with six daughters and is a Florida native. She has worked in the publishing industry since 1995 as a copy editor, writer, production director, and in project and distribution manage ment. When she's not deconstructing sentences, she is singing and playing guitar and keyboard with her band, The Allie Cats, in Tallahassee, Florida. She also enjoys spending time with her fur baby rescues — three dogs, five cats and a horse named Maggie.

BAXTER REGIONAL HEALTHCARE HAPPENINGS

MILESTONES, NEWS AND SPECIAL EVENTS AT BAXTER REGIONAL

BAXTER REGIONAL SELECTED

One Of The Best Places To Work

IN HEALTHCARE FOR SECOND YEAR

For the second consecutive year, Baxter Regional has been selected one of the Best Places to Work in Healthcare by MODERN HEALTHCARE, a healthcare industry publication.

BUCK-A-ROO BALL

The Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation will hold the BUCK-A-ROO BALL fundraising event on Saturday evening, Sept. 24, from 6 to 11 p.m. at Stone Creek Ranch. When describing the event, Cindy Costa, CFRE, Director of Development, Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation said, “Think of it as Yellowstone meets Mountain Home.”

The evening’s festivities will feature music by Nashville country and Southern rock artist Jason Cross, sponsored by Arvest Bank. The event will include a barbecue dinner, beer and wine, a mechanical bull and contest for best Western attire.

Tickets are $100 each and may be purchased at the hospital foundation office by calling 870-508-1779 or online at baxterregional.org/buckarooball. Proceeds from the event benefit the hospital’s community houses.

The award, which identifies and recognizes outstanding employers in the healthcare industry, was announced by Fawn Lopez, Modern Healthcare Publisher, who referred to the healthcare workforce’s battle with burnout from the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

”The organizations that have focused significant resources and energy to support their staff throughout these especially challenging times deserve the loyalty of their teams and the recognition of the entire industry. At MODERN HEALTHCARE, we are honored to celebrate the Best Places to Work for demonstrating their commitment to their employees and the communities they serve.”

“It is an honor to be recognized once again as one of the Best Places to Work in Healthcare,”

said Ron Peterson, Baxter Regional President & CEO. “We are very fortunate to be blessed to have such amazing and committed employees, providers and volunteers that truly believe and exemplify our mission of providing high-quality compassionate care beyond measure.”

Best Places to Work in Healthcare rankings will be announced at an event in Nashville, Tennessee on September 29th and published in a special supplement of the October 3rd issue of MODERN HEALTHCARE. A complete list of the 2022 winners is available at Modernhealthcare. com/labor/best-placeswork-healthcare-2022alphabetical-list.

Peitz Cancer Support House will hold its second annual Kick Cancer in the Bass Fishing Tournament Saturday, Oct. 15, at Bull Shoals Boat Dock. PCSH Coordinator Melissa Hudson says the tournament will begin in the morning at safe light. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top five finishing boats, and a drawing will be held for prizes and The Big Bass Pot.

The entry fee is $250 per two-person boat with registration limited to 75 boats. For registration information, call the Peitz Cancer Support House at 870-508-2273.

The fishing tournament is a Quest Sanctioned Tournament with all proceeds benefiting the programs and support services of the Peitz Cancer Support House.

The Schliemann Center for Women’s Health Education will hold their annual fundraiser, Boos and Brews Monster Gala Saturday, Oct. 29, from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Wellness Education Center located at 2545 Highway 5 North in Mountain Home.

The adult Halloween Party will feature a dinner and signature drinks, a DJ, games and a costume contest. Parking is available in the hospital parking lot in front of the Schliemann Center with complimentary shuttle service to and from the event provided.

The all-inclusive $75 tickets can be purchased at the Schliemann Center or by calling 870-508-2345.

All proceeds from the Boos and Brews Monster Gala benefit the programs and services of the Schliemann Center for Women's Health Education.

The 2022 Employee Fund Drive held in April broke all previous records, with 1,211 hospital employees pledging $182,000, according to Cindy Costa, Hospital Foundation Director of Development.

During the Employee Fund Drive (EFD) kickoff, the EFD Committee visited every hospital department and outside clinics to answer questions and provide snacks, awards and daily prize drawings provided by community donations.

The EFD, which is managed by committees of hospital employees, assists discharged patients through the Friends Fund and fellow employees through the Employee Crisis Fund. Funds are also provided to the Mountain Home Christian Clinic, Hospice of the Ozarks Hospice House and the Baxter Regional Community Health Education & Support Houses. The fund also awards $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors who are the children or grandchildren of Baxter Regional employees.

BAXTER REGIONAL COMMUNITY HOUSES ARE OPEN

HOURS: Weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For additional information visit www.baxterregional.org or call the individual house.

MRUK FAMILY EDUCATION CENTER ON AGING

870-508-3881

All sessions are at the Mruk Family Education Center on Aging unless otherwise noted.

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:

SUPPORT SERVICES

Better Breather’s Support – 2nd Friday from 2–3 p.m. (Please call to verify.)

Dementia Family Caregiver Support –4th Thursday from 1:30–2:30 p.m.

Dementia Family Workshops –Every Thursday. Check schedule for topics and times.

SENIOR EXERCISE

Fit & Fab for Women, Strengthening and Balance – Tuesday & Thursday, 9:15 a.m. or 10:15 a.m. held at the Wellness Education Center at 2545 Hwy. 5 North, Mountain Home.

Fitness for Men, Strengthening and Balance – Monday, Wednesday & Friday at 9:15 a.m.

Registration required for men’s and women’s classes. No charge, but monthly or one-time donations appreciated. Call 870-508-3881.

Rock Steady Boxing for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease – Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Times vary, registration and assessment required. Call 870-508-3881. Held at the Wellness Education Center at 2545 Hwy. 5 North, Mountain Home.

Standing & Seated Exercise for Seniors with Reduced Mobility –Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:15–11:15 a.m.

DEMENTIA CAREGIVER THURSDAYS

AUGUST:

4th Early to Mid-Stage Dementia, 1:30–2:30 p.m.

11th Mid to Late Stages of Dementia, 1:30–2:30 p.m.

18th Dementia 101 & Virtual Dementia Experience: Brain changes related to dementia, 1:30–2:30 p.m., brain in dementia vs. normal aging

28th Dementia Caregiver Support Group, 1:30–2:30 p.m.

SEPTEMBER:

1st Workshop A: Normal/Not Normal Aging, 1:30–3:30 p.m.

8th Workshop B: Positive Physical Approach, 1:30–3:30 p.m.

15th Filling the Day with Meaning & Activity, 1:30–2:30 p.m.

22nd Dementia Caregiver Support Group, 1:30–2:30 p.m.

29th Transitioning Living & Care in Dementia, 1:30–3 p.m.

JOURNEY TO HEALTHY AGING

AUGUST:

GO WHOLE FOOD, PLANT-BASED –Shared recipes & techniques – Monday 8th, 2–3 p.m.

ACID REFLUX GERD, HEARTBURN, INDIGESTION with Dawn Henry, APRN – Baxter Regional Gastroenterology Clinic – Tuesday 16th, 1–2 p.m.

DISHING UP SENIOR NUTRITION –

Top Nutrition Myths Debunked for Seniors with Jodi Bodenhamer MSN, APRN, CDES - Reppell Diabetes Education Coordinator – Wednesday 17th, 3–4 p.m.

GETTING A BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP

– Managing and Treating Sleep Problems with Karen Ezell, BS RRT RPSGT – Tuesday 30th, 1–2 p.m.

SEPTEMBER:

GO WHOLE FOOD, PLANT-BASED –Shared recipes & techniques – Monday 12th, 2–3 p.m.

UNDERSTANDING MEDICARE –Discover the Best Medicare Option for You with Nancy Leone, RN, MSNEd –Tuesday 20th, 1–2 p.m.

DISHING UP SENIOR NUTRITION –Food that Supports Bone Health with Jodi Bodenhamer, APRN, CDCES – Reppell Diabetes Education Coordinator –Wednesday 21st, 3–4 p.m.

OCTOBER: ARTHRITIS LUNCH-N-LEARN with Dr. Jessica Brown, DPT, PT at Bone & Joint Clinic – Thursday 6th, Noon

DISHING UP SENIOR NUTRITION with Jodi Bodenhamer, APRN, CDCES –Reppell Diabetes Education Coordinator –Wednesday 19th, 3-4 p.m.

AARP DRIVER SAFETY

We are pleased to announce AARP Driver Safety classes are back! Every 4th Wednesday of the month – Noon to 4 p.m. AARP Members $20; Non-Members $25 Reservations are being taken for September to December. Call 870-508-3880 to register.

Recently Diagnosed Information & Support – Every Wednesday at 1 p.m.

Grief Support – Monthly First Thursday at 1 p.m.

Ostomy Information & Support –Monthly First Friday at 11 a.m.

Men’s Cancer Discussions – Monthly Second Thursday at 9 a.m.

Caregivers Information and Support –

BAXTER REGIONAL COMMUNITY HOUSES CONTINUED

Monthly Third Thursday at 1 p.m.

Threads of Hope: Creating Gifts for Cancer Patients – Every Monday at 1 p.m.

Walking to Thrive – Every Monday at 9 a.m.

Knock Out Cancer Boxing – Every Tuesday & Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

Intermediate Yoga – Every Tuesday & Thursday at 8 a.m.

Chair Yoga – Every Monday & Friday at 10 a.m.

Nicotine Cessation with Roxy Koop –Scheduled by appointment only.

AUGUST

Lunch & Learn: Lymphedema by Aaron Estes, PT – Tuesday, 9th at Noon

Lunch & Learn: Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage Massage by Danae Bagwell, LMT – Tuesday, 23rd at 4 p.m.

Cancer Survivor Parade Float –Wednesday, 24th at 4 p.m.

SEPTEMBER

Registration begins for Kick Cancer in the Bass Benefit Fishing Tournament –September 1st

Lunch & Learn: Understanding Mastectomy Options & Nerve Regeneration by Staci Boyett – 13th at Noon

OCTOBER

3D Breast Areola Tattooing Educational Seminar – Friday 4th at 5:30 p.m.

Kick Cancer in the Bass Benefit

Fishing Tournament – Saturday 15th begins in the morning at safe light

REPPELL DIABETES CLINIC 870-508-1765

Open Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., 8 a.m.–Noon on Fridays, walk-ins welcome. After hours by appointment only. Free diabetes testing kits and insulin supplies for anyone in need, no prescription needed.

CALENDAR:

AUGUST:

Diabetes Self-Management Classes –Wednesday, 3rd & 24th; Thursday 1st, 4th, 18th, 25th. Requires a physician’s referral. Call 870-508-1765 for times and registration.

Healthy Nutrition Workshop –Increasing Vitamins with Jan Halligan, RD, LD, CDCES – August 17th from Noon–1 p.m. at Wellness Education Center at 2545 Hwy. 5 North, Mountain Home.

Diabetes Support Group MeetingDiabetes Support Group – August 19th, 11 a.m.–Noon. Benefits of Physical Therapy with Krissy Cunningham PTA. Offered at Reppell Diabetes Learning Center. Please call 870-508-1765 to register.

SEPTEMBER:

Diabetes Self-Management Classes –Wednesday 14th and 28th; Thursday 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th. Requires a physician’s referral. Call 870-508-1765 for times and registration.

Healthy Nutrition Workshop, Keto Information with Jan Halligan, RD, LD, CDCES, – September 21 from Noon–1 p.m. at Wellness Education Center at 2545 Hwy. 5 North, Mountain Home.

Diabetes Support Group Meeting –Type 1 Diabetes Technology Update – Date TBA, please call 870-508-1765 to register.

SCHLIEMANN CENTER FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH EDUCATION

870-508-2345

Limited seating, reservations required.

CALENDAR:

PRENATAL CLASSES:

Childbirth Class – Second Saturday of every month, 9 a.m.

Breastfeeding Class – Third Tuesday of every month, 5:30 p.m.

SUPPORT GROUPS: Infant Loss & Support – Facilitated

by Deanna Howarth-Reynolds, LMFT, Lighthouse Counseling of the Ozarks –First Thursday of every month, 5:30 p.m.

Heart Healthy Women – Second Thursday of every month, 1 p.m.

Novel Women’s Book Club – Third Wednesday of the month, 1 p.m.

Mommy & Me Support Group – First and third Thursday of every month, 1 p.m.

Fibromyalgia Support Group – Monthly, second Monday, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Breastfeeding Support & Tips for Successful Nursing – Drop-ins are every Tuesday, 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.

EXERCISE: Held at the Wellness Education Center at 2545 Hwy. 5 North, Mountain Home

Line Dancing – Every Tuesday, beginners at 11:15 a.m. and advanced at 12:15 p.m.

Dance! – Every Monday and Wednesday, 4:15 p.m.

Cardio Kickboxing & Strength Training with Angie Bertel – Every Monday and Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.

AUGUST: Safe Sitter ® classes for teens and preteens – Wednesday 10th & Thursday 11th at 9 a.m. $35 per student

Lunch & Learn Learning Session: Intimacy After a Stroke Pelvic Floor Therapy – Tuesday 23rd at Noon with Lori Stanton, LMSW, Baxter Regional Acute Inpatient Rehab

SEPTEMBER:

Lunch & Learn Learning Session: Healthy Aging – Normal vs. Not Normal – Friday 16th at 12:30 p.m. with Jessica Johnson, APRN, Fairlamb Senior Health Clinic

Learning Session: Whole Grains 100 –Tuesday 27th at 11 a.m. with Tamara Carl

OCTOBER: Girls’ Night Out: Breast to Be Informed – Monday 3rd, Baxter Regional Medical Panel

Boos & Brews Monster Gala Fundraiser – Saturday 29th, the Wellness Education Center n

Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation

THE VALUE OF COMPASSIONATE CARE WAS THE THEME OF THE 2022 DONOR BANQUET of the Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation held May 12 at the Vada Sheid Community Development Center on the campus of ASU-Mountain Home. The evening cel ebrated the hospital’s achievements and expressed gratitude to the hospital’s staff, administration and volunteers for their

BY DEBORAH STANUCH

continued compassionate patient care and kindness as well as to the community for their continued support and generosity.

Ron Peterson, Baxter Regional President and CEO, said the annual Donor Banquet is an event he enjoys. “It is always so won derful to meet with the individuals that support the hospital. It was truly an eve ning of celebration and gratitude for our volunteers and donors.”

(Above) Presentation of a $1 million check to Baxter Regional from the hospital foundation. Back row, from left: Travis Doshier, Foundation Board of Directors Chair; Sarah Edwards, Foundation Major Gift Officer. Front row, from left: Ron Peterson, Baxter Regional President/ CEO; Debbie Henry, Baxter Regional VP/Chief Financial Officer; John Dyess, Major Gift Chair, Foundation Board of Directors; Steve Litty, Major Gift Committee Member, Foundation Board of Directors; Barney Larry, VP/Business Development and Foundation Executive Director.

Travis Doshier, Foundation Board Chairman, welcomed the 300 attendees, introduced the evening’s speakers and ex pressed appreciation to the hospital and foundation boards, senior leaders, and members of auxiliary and community house boards of directors for their dedication to Baxter Regional.

Jay Wescoat, past Foundation Board Chairman, was introduced by Doshier who presented him with a plaque of recog nition and appreciation for his two years of board leadership.

Cindy Costa, CFRE, Director of Development, Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation, introduced Jeannie Alley, a hospital donor and volunteer, who donat ed the grand piano she plays each weekday in the hospital lobby. When Costa present ed Alley with an award of recognition and appreciation, she shared a blog story “The Gift,” by a patient, Pat Durmon, who re ferred to Alley’s music as “a healing gift.”

Randy Hopper, Chairman of the Baxter Regional Board of Directors, extended ap preciation and gratitude from the hospital board members to the hospital leadership, employees, volunteers and community for their contributions to the hospital’s achievements and growth.

A major highlight of the evening was

“For me, it is always very difficult to find a way to express to a room full of volunteers, donors and true friends our gratitude and appreciation for your kindness and compassion. So let me just say, thank you, thank you and thank you. You will never realize the full blessing that you are to this organization.”

– Ron Peterson, Baxter Regional President/CEO

The Gift

BY PAT DURMON

Entering Baxter Regional, a screener handed me a mask, took my temperature and asked a series of questions to make sure I felt well. Afterward, I walked past the coffee shop and the woman at the piano.

My mind was thinking about getting registered and going to the lab. It’s what most cancer victims do every six months to keep a check on cancer cells in the body. We want to find them before they grow. It can happen to anyone, and it can happen fast.

As I sat down in the registration area, I thought about how I get too busy trying to juggle schedules, people and tasks. But here, on this day, I began watching people in need. I became aware of others and what was going on around me. One or two names were called. I focused on the man and woman across from me.

He had his eyes closed, and his head was moving from side to side. He was swaying to the tune being played on the piano. The man smiled and seemed to absorb the music. The woman next to him was speaking about the music. His head continued to sway. He seemed to not hear her.

I tried to listen closer to the music coming from the entry hall. It dis persed the gloom of the cold day.

It might be described as calming music. I didn’t recognize the piano piece, but it felt like a waltz — or wavelets on a rippling pond.

My name was soon called. I quickly answered questions and was reg istered. Then, I was directed to the lab.

Instead of turning left as directed, I decided to turn right. The pianist could be gone when I came out of the lab! I did not want to miss talking to her.

She had given me a gift — the gift of comfort.

I sat on a bench and waited for her to finish playing “The Sound of Music.” If you don’t know that piece, imagine gentle breezes with a spe cial lilt, making you want to soar upward.

When she finished, she looked at me and smiled. I stepped over and introduced myself.

“Hi, my name is Pat. You play beautifully. I’m headed for the lab where they will put a needle in my arm. But you. You gave me a gift today. Because of you, my spirit is calm. I just want to say thank you.”

The woman at the piano said, “It’s my honor. I’m here every day from 10 a.m. until 12 noon.”

“You mean you play every day?”

“Yes, I play on weekdays. If I can’t make it, someone else will be playing.”

“I’m pretty amazed. You have a gift, and you are giving it away every day to people who are hurting, scared and worried. A God thing. I guess you know that.”

“It’s my ministry to people,” Jeannie said. “I wanted to give music to those who must come to the hospital. My big surprise is that it minis ters to me, too!”

Her name is Jeannie Alley, and she is giving the gift of healing music.

the presentation of a $1 million check by Barney Larry, Vice President/Business Development and Executive Director of the Baxter Hospital Foundation; Sarah Edwards, Foundation Major Gift Officer; John Dyess, Major Gift Chairman; and Steve Litty, Major Gift Committee Member to Ron Peterson, Baxter Regional President/CEO and Debbie Henry, Baxter Regional Vice President/Chief Financial Officer. The $1 million check is a first in stallment of the $1.7 million raised in the 5 South Surgical Services Unit Capital Campaign. Completion of the renovation is expected this year.

As he began his presentation on philan thropy’s impact on Baxter Regional, Peterson expressed his gratitude for the $1.7 million donation for the 5 South ren ovation. “For me, it is always very difficult to find a way to express to a room full of volunteers, donors and true friends our gratitude and appreciation for your kind ness and compassion. So let me just say, thank you, thank you and thank you. You will never realize the full blessing that you are to this organization.”

During his remarks, Peterson cited 10 major accomplishments valued at $5 million through generous gifts and vol unteered hours donated to the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also introduced the hospital’s new mission: compassionate care beyond measure; purpose — to champion access to com passionate high-quality care by remaining independent, strategically comprehensive and community focused; as well as an eight-point values statement.

The final presentation of the evening was a video honoring hospital employ ees who were recognized by patients and family members for their compas sionate care and kindness. Reverend Randy Ludwig, Hospital Chaplain, and Peterson shared their personal stories of the compassion and kindness their fam ilies received at Baxter Regional — com passionate care and kindness which is then extended to all patients.

Ludwig spoke about his father, a patient at Baxter Regional when he died after a long illness that left him nearly unrecog nizable to his family. His father’s nurse

BAXTER REGIONAL MISSION • PURPOSE • VALUES

MISSION

Compassionate care beyond measure.

PURPOSE

To champion access to compassionate, high-quality care by remaining independent, strategically comprehensive and community-focused.

VALUES

Make Every Interaction Meaningful: Act with a servant’s heart. Our culture is something that we grow through action, not words. Let’s be intentional in our actions to serve those around us. We make it a point to say hello, know patients and colleagues by name and ask how they’re doing. This is the Baxter Difference.

Treat Everyone Like Family: We are a huge part of the communities we serve, and likewise, they are a huge part of us. Therefore, it is critical that we remain community-minded in all that we do. Whoever needs our care, be they a neighbor, old friend or someone just passing through town, let’s treat them like family. Providing compassionate care that feels like home.

Be Extraordinary Everyday: We’re always on the lookout for opportunities to be exceptionally unique, authentic and uncommon with our actions. When we engage, we engage fully. When we act, we act with intention. Everything we do we do wholeheartedly. Our extraordinary efforts leave patients and families with memories they’ll cherish forever.

Always Take Ownership: While compassion and excellence are the heart and soul of our organization, pride is the backbone. Every day, we live up to our Magnet status and stellar reputation by putting the Baxter Difference into action. We lend a hand when help is needed. We show leadership in times of uncertainty. We make patients, colleagues and communities better — simply by being Baxter.

Provide Service Beyond Measure: We use every moment as an opportunity to leave an indelible mark on our patients and each other. It is our promise to one another to faithfully seek out new knowledge and perspectives that challenge our embedded views on health and wellness. Only by embracing these experiences (and sometimes setbacks), can we arrive at a deeper level of understanding and more informed relationships with our patients.

Independent With a Purpose: Because we’re independently operated, we can act quickly, decisively and in the best interest of our staff, patients and surrounding community — less red tape, more open doors, no unnecessary corporate mandates, only compassionate care. Trust and transparency are simply how we operate in good faith and for the greater good of our Baxter family.

Comprehensive Care by Design: We aren’t just one hospital, but a family of interconnected healthcare facilities and providers that offer head-totoe compassionate care. For every patient who walks through our doors, we have a doctor or specialist who’s prepared to win trust, treat illness and deliver them back to ordinary life. Treatment could start here and now — or a few counties over. At Baxter, where there’s a diagnosis, there’s direction.

Think as Many, Act as One: We share a common purpose to significantly affect every life we touch in a meaningful and positive way. Our ability to sustain the impact is derived from our commitment to working in the same direction as one. Though we’re each accountable for our own responsibilities, each of us must recognize our role and reliance on each other in achieving operational excellence. Through this interdependence, we’ll not only work harder, but we also work smarter.

10 MAJOR Accomplishments

1. Over 120,000 volunteer hours.

2. The purchase of extra ventilators and BiPAP machines when COVID-19 was starting.

3. The opening of a 10,000-squarefoot Community Education Building that supports our community houses and provides space for Rock Steady Boxing.

4. The purchase of two new ambulances for $400,000.

5. The opening of a Simulation Laboratory on 3 South.

6. Providing over $600,000 per year in scholarships for employees or future employees.

7. Remodeled and expanded the number of rooms by six on 5 South, thanks to $1.7 million raised in the 5 South Surgical Services Unit Capital Campaign.

8. In conjunction with Mountain Home High School and ASUMountain Home, provided an accelerated LPN class for high school seniors with a stipend for students as they progress through the program — a $600,000 commitment from donations.

9. Achievement of Magnet designation.

10. The donation of land valued at $400,000 for the new Highlands Oncology at Baxter Building.

understood how difficult this was for the family, and when they returned to his room, they found him cleanly shaved with his hair washed and combed, looking like the father they remembered.

Peterson said when his mother-in-law, a hospital patient, died during the night, his wife, Jeanne, regretted not being there and feared her mother died alone. The family was relieved and grateful to learn she was not alone and died peacefully while her nurse sang hymns and held her hand.

The evening concluded with Corinne Hiser, CNP, singing “It Is Well With My Soul” with the audience standing and singing the hymn’s closing chorus. n

Baxter Regional Clinics

REPPELL DIABETES CLINIC OF BAXTER REGIONAL’S PRIMARY CARE CLINICS

BY DEBORAH STANUCH

THE REPPELL DIABETES LEARNING CENTER IS NOW THE REPPELL DIABETES CLINIC, PART OF THE SPECIALTY CLINICS AT BAXTER REGIONAL. According to Jodi Bodenhamer, APRN, CDCES, Reppell Diabetes Education Coordinator, the center began in 1999 as the diabetes education pro gram serving patients from a classroom in the hospital’s Education Building. In June 2006, the facility opened as the Reppell Diabetes Learning Center at its current location on the hospital campus pro viding support and services to patients with Type 1 and 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes in the hospital’s service area.

Early this year, Bodenhamer became a licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing with National Certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Following her APRN licensing and certification, the Reppell Diabetes Learning Center became a diabetes spe cialty clinic as an outpatient department of Baxter Health.

A member of the Arkansas State Diabetes Advisory Council, Bodenhamer is the only APRN at Baxter Regional and in the hospital’s service area to hold National Certification as a Diabetes Care and Educational Specialist.

In her new role, Bodenhamer said she will be working close ly with a diabetic patient’s primary physician. “We are working with, not taking the place of primary care doctors. We take refer rals from primary care physicians and accept walk-in patients.

“Before we were able to provide education and support services only. Now we can take the patient’s history, perform physical ex aminations, develop a treatment plan and write prescriptions.”

The clinic can also provide supplies and equipment including continuous glucose monitors and referrals for insulin pumps. As a certified insulin pump and Omnipod trainer, Bodenhamer can pro vide training to patients and troubleshoot problems with pumps.

“We are able to help patients obtain treatment equipment and medication that is expensive and hard to get by providing de tailed documentation,” said Bodenhamer.

According to Karman Nesbitt, Director of Primary Care Clinics at Baxter Regional, Bodenhamer will be working with the hospi tal’s primary clinics and traveling to remote sites for support and education sessions. With Jan Halligan, RD, LD, CDCES, Reppell Diabetes Learning Clinic Dietitian, she will continue to provide education classes to individuals and groups including Lunch and Learn sessions, medical nutrition therapy, dietary nutrition, cooking and preventative care. Support groups for patients with Type 2 diabetes and children with Type 1 diabetes and their par ents as well as special events and outings for diabetic children will continue at the clinic and other locations.

“We are so proud to have Jodi on our team, for getting her APRN license and being able to provide care to our community,” said Nesbitt.

“I’ve always loved being able to be here for my diabetes pa tients. Now I can provide a little extra TLC,” said Bodenhamer.

The Reppell Diabetes Clinic is open Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., 8 a.m.–Noon on Fridays, and walk-ins are welcome. After hours are by appointment only. For more information and appointments, call 870-508-1765. n

Jodi Bodenhamer, APRN, CDCES, Reppell Diabetes Education Coordinator, teaches a patient about diabetes management.

Baxter Regional Board Member

TORCH CARRYING the

BY DWAIN HEBDA

BAXTER REGIONAL BECAME ONE OF THE MOST SUC CESSFUL SMALL HOSPITALS IN THE REGION, IF NOT THE COUNTRY, BY ADHERING TO SEVERAL CORE STRATEGIES. One of those is maintaining a talented and qual ified board. Drawn from the community, board members are dis tinguished not only for their individual area of expertise, but for their love of the community.

All of which made Heather Loftis a natural fit for the presti gious body, which she joined in January, 2022.

“It was the honor of a lifetime for me to be asked to serve on the hospital board,” she said. “Knowing the important role the hospital plays in our community, to be a part of the leadership through the hospital board, I’m honored, grateful and kind of overwhelmed with it.”

Modesty aside, Loftis checked all the boxes necessary for an ef fective board member. Born and raised in Mountain Home, she’s the second-generation owner of KTLO, the community’s beloved radio station. As a business owner, she understands the challeng es of meeting payroll, and having earned a marketing degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, she’s highly adept at communicating.

She even has work experience with the hospital foundation to boot, having worked in that office for four years prior to working full time in radio. All of which combine to give her the sense of the history, perspective and urgency needed to meet the hospital’s future challenges.

“I know the struggles the hospital is facing, and I know we’re al ways going to have an uphill battle,” she said. “The goals are simple: We have to remain independent. We have to remain community fo cused. I know for everyone within the senior leadership team, that is their utmost priority. In this area, everything revolves around the hospital; it’s ingrained in the very fabric of our community.”

The challenges in healthcare today are many — challenges to which Baxter Regional is no exception. On top of long-standing

reimbursement issues, near-constant upgrades to facilities and equipment and nonstop recruitment, leadership and staff also deal with the many new twists COVID-19 continues to bring to healthcare delivery. Loftis praised her fellow board members and the hospital’s leadership for keeping so many things in balance at once across multiple constituencies.

“You always have threats, and you always have opportunities in whatever line of work that you’re in,” she said. “You have to constant ly be communicating with everyone involved making sure you’re staying on top of the greatest needs and concerns of every person that puts on the badge of Baxter Regional, listening and paying at tention to them, as well as the needs and desires of the community.”

Even as she’s raced to get up to speed with the business of the board, Loftis says she sees opportunities to tell a better, more complete story about everything that’s going on here.

“I don’t know for sure that everyone locally knows all the differ ent opportunities and resources this hospital provides our com munity,” she said. “If you have different people coming in and out of our community as much as we do during the tourism season or new people who are moving into this area, do they know what a tremendous asset this hospital has been for our community for 50 plus years, and what opportunities lie ahead for us? We should never take for granted that they do.”

Loftis said the common denominator in the big things the little hospital has achieved — Magnet status, new construction, cut ting-edge technology and a complex network of clinics — is the can-do spirit of the people behind it.

“They’ve kept the community focus at the forefront since the very beginning, and the culture reflects that,” she said. “When you have so many people who have given so much of their life to the hospital who are still there and you balance that out with the new physi cians and new leaders who come in, the culture becomes some thing very powerful. It’s not something people just pay lip service to; it’s something they believe in and put into practice every day.” n

“The goals are simple: We have to remain independent. We have to remain community focused.”

– Heather Loftis, second-generation owner of KTLO

Heather Loftis at KTLO in Mountain Home.

Reed, Vice President of Ancillary Services

THE MAN

CURTAIN Behind the

BY DWAIN HEBDA

OBSERVING BAXTER REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, A LOT OF PA TIENT-FACING ELEMENTS COME

INTO FOCUS VERY QUICKLY. From the volunteers offering a cheerful greeting and assistance at the front door to the com passionate nurses attending to patients to the myriad physicians making their rounds, it is a scene of efficiency and organization.

One critical element of the award-win ning operations here is something you may not think about, but without whom things would rapidly devolve into chaos. That element is Ancillary Services, which consists of roughly 540 employees in multiple departments that provide sup port services to the health system, capa bly guided by Baxter Regional’s new Vice President, Anthony Reed.

Reed, who recently took over as VP/ Ancillary Services after nine years serv ing as director of Baxter Regional Acute Inpatient Rehab Unit, leads a team re sponsible for ensuring smooth operations of the health system.

Departments that make up Ancillary Services ensure that patients have the med ications needed, that the hospital has power in an outage, that the hospital meets their high standards for cleanliness, and that

patients have access to pain management, wound care, outpatient therapy services, radiology and lab services. From quality food service and hospital security to en suring COVID-19 patients receive the best cardiopulmonary care possible, these are all things accomplished by the hospital’s Ancillary Services. It’s a massive responsi bility made up of many moving parts. But for Reed, who began his career in the fast paced, change direction on a dime world of nursing, the pace and variety of his work are what he finds the most appealing.

“I’ve always been able to keep a level head and not get worked up in stressful situations,” he said. “What really drove me to leadership was the example set by the leaders I have had here and the pos itive impact it had on me personally and professionally, and I have always strived to model those servant leader traits. I know the impact great leaders have had on me, and I want to do that for those I lead.

“Ultimately everything Ancillary Services does touches the patient in some way. Improving patient and employee environ ments is what has always driven me, from my time at the bedside to leadership.

“My philosophy has always been that I take care of the people that take care of our

patients. If I take great care of my team, great patient care and outcomes will be the result, and this has proven true time and again over my career. I have a great group of directors, most of which I have worked with for years, so there is already trust and respect between us, and I look forward to continuing to work with this talented team in a new capacity.”

A Mountain Home native, Reed began his career at Baxter Regional as a nursing assistant in 2008 while attending nursing school. He has remained loyal and com mitted to the health system and admits, “we have something special here.”

“It’s the culture that we’ve built that starts at the C Suite and goes to the bed side and everywhere between,” he said. “Everyone believes in and lives out our mission, vision, values, and especially our purpose of remaining independent.”

When not at work, Reed has a full fam ily life. He and his wife Vanessa gradu ated high school together and have been married for 15 years. They spend their free time with their four children, Parker, 16, Kynlee Grace, 11, Dyllan, 8, and Sadie Claire, 2. n

Anthony

Jackie Broad volunteers at the Flippin Bargain Box and loves the reward of helping people.

YeLlow GOLD

VOLUNTEER CORPS TURNS 60

BY DWAIN HEBDA

THERE ARE MANY NOTABLE MILESTONES OF WHICH BAXTER REGIONAL CAN BE JUSTIFIABLY PROUD, FROM CREATING A BEST PLACE TO WORK TO EARN ING MAGNET STATUS TO GROWING AND THRIVING AT A TIME WHEN MANY SMALL HOSPITALS HAVE AL TOGETHER CEASED TO BE. But arguably, none of these ac colades tops the accomplishments and daily impact of the plucky

corps of volunteers known affectionately as the Yellow Army, so named for their distinctive yellow uniform shirts.

This cadre of individuals plays a number of roles in the daily life of the hospital. Dutifully reporting to their posts as they have for the past six decades, volunteers greet patients and their families, give directions and assistance, shuttle people in from the parking lot and staff the gift shop.

JASON MASTERS AND COURTESY OF BAXTER REGIONAL

Mrs. William E. Thompson (left) and Mrs. C. Sievert volunteering as “pink ladies” with the magazine rack donated by the auxiliary in 1964.

(from left) Dr. Jack C. Wilson, Charles H. McMillan, Bill Kissell, and Mrs. Joe Stiles, president of the Hospital Auxiliary, as Kissell demonstrates a new life-saving device funded by the auxiliary in 1968.

PiNkA-DILLY

They represent the first person a patient sees when they ar rive and the last who bids them a good day as they leave. And in that sense, the Yellow Army is the very face of the Baxter Regional experience.

“Would our hospital run without volunteers? It certainly would,” said Becky Rose, CVM, Director of Vounteer Services. “But it wouldn’t have that same look or feel. Our volunteers are helping people on probably not the best day of their life. If you’re coming to the hospital, it’s because you’ve got some kind of health issue going on. Our volunteers help people navigate a very difficult day.”

The volunteer auxiliary formed in April, 1962, 18 months before the original Baxter General Hospital opened its doors. The group has been around so long, it sees its fair share of second-generation volunteers, such as current Baxter Regional Auxiliary President Joan Young.

“My mom had been a nurse at Baxter Regional and when she retired, she took a big, long trip, then came back and started vol unteering at the hospital,” Young said. “She loved doing it; she’d say, ‘I’ve got to go to work today.’ And I’d say, ‘I thought you said

Becky Rose

Above: Debbie Swan, the current manager of the Pink-A-Dilly Gift Shop, where volunteers work to brighten peoples’ day.

Right: Mariona Cheer (left) won a contest to name the Pink-a-Dilly Gift Shop when it opened in 1984. Adele Humpfer (right) was a past president of the auxiliary, and worked as the manager.

DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES

Photography by Kevin Pieper

Joan Young

BARGAINBoX

you’d never work again at the hospital.’ She said, ‘This isn’t work. This is volunteering.’ And that kind of stuck with me.

“I was still a full-time employee when I heard they were need ing someone every fifth Saturday in the gift shop. I thought, why not? I started in 2006.”

The Yellow Army has not yet rebounded to pre-COVID par ticipation levels, but those who have come back have racked up some pretty impressive numbers, serving 64,000 volunteer hours in 2021. The group has also proven itself potent at fund raising, contributing nearly $650,000 last year, generated from a combination of sales in the hospital gift shop, two local resale stores and assorted monthly fundraisers.

And then there’s the endowment, raised a few years ago in an effort spearheaded by Carolyn Hannon, then-Baxter Regional Auxiliary Chairman. The former nurse pitched the idea of an en dowment, something Barney Larry, Executive Director of Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation,

“I told Barney I would like the auxiliary to do something like an endowment,” Hannon said. “He said, ‘OK, how much

eagerly endorsed.

Top Left: Volunteers collecting items to donate to the Bargain Box to benefit the hospital, circa 1963.

Left: The original Bargain Box on the corner of 6th and Baker street in Mountain Home, in 1967.

Above: Volunteers Karen Schlitt, Patti Kaster, and Barbara Davenport working at the Bargain Box thrift store in Flippin.

BAXTER REGIONAL AUXILIARY PRESIDENT

Photography by James Moore

EndowmeNt $1 MILLION

do you think? Two hundred, three hundred thousand?’ I said, ‘No, a million dollars.’

“His eyes got sort of large and he said, ‘Do you really think the auxiliary can do that?’ I said, ‘I have no doubt about our money-earning skills.’”

Larry gave the group 10 years to accomplish the feat; Hannon promised it in seven and the organization delivered it, fully funded, in six. She called the endowment the most viv id example of the group’s can-do spirit, something that starts from the top down.

“I think we have had good leadership,” Hannon said. “Becky (Rose) and Barney (Larry) and Ron Peterson, our CEO, have all been very supportive of everything we’ve done. Some things we know we can’t do, but 99 percent of the stuff they’ll say, ‘Go for it,’ and we have.”

Today, the Yellow Army remains an integral part of the Baxter

Regional brand. Through its fundraising, it has purchased equip ment, kicked in on capital campaigns and even bought multiple ambulances. Its financial strength ranks the hospital’s auxiliary behind only Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, despite residing in a community a fraction of the size.

The need for bodies is always there, which is why current vol unteers are constantly in recruiting mode. Joan Young’s pitch is simple: There’s no better way to give back to society, she tells peo ple, than volunteering at the hospital. Whether it’s writing the big checks or sharing the small moments, there’s something good waiting for every volunteer’s soul.

“Everybody is here for the same common goal: to make things better,” she said. “There’s a joy in the gift of giving back, touching a life in ways you may never fully know about. That gives you a feeling like when you see the mountains for the first time. There are no words for it sometimes.” n

Left: Volunteer Carolyn Hannon, who spearheaded the endowment efforts during her time as auxiliary chairman.

Right: The Auxiliary reached their endowment goal of $1 Million in six years, and announced the gift at the Auxiliary Appreciation Banquet in 2005.

for groceries

for groceries

The Healthy Foods Card benefit provides an allowance to purchase approved healthy foods and may help you eat healthier

Card

If you’re eligible, Humana plans may be able to help you pay for healthy food to put on the table with the Healthy Foods Card benefit. It’s included with the Humana Gold Plus SNP-DE H5619-123 (HMO D-SNP).

If you’re eligible, Humana plans may be able to help you pay for healthy food to put on the table with the Healthy Foods Card benefit. It’s included with the Humana Gold Plus SNP-DE H5619-123 (HMO D-SNP).

Healthier grocery purchases. Here’s how it works:

Healthier

The Healthy Foods Card benefit provides an allowance to purchase approved healthy foods and may help you eat healthier

grocery

purchases.

If you’re eligible, Humana plans may be able to help you pay for healthy food to put on the table with the Healthy Foods Card benefit. It’s included with the Humana Gold Plus SNP-DE H5619-123 (HMO D-SNP).

If you’re eligible, Humana plans may be able to help you pay for healthy food to put on the table with the Healthy Foods Card benefit. It’s included with the Humana Gold Plus SNP-DE H5619-123 (HMO D-SNP).

Here’s how it works:

Healthier grocery purchases. Here’s how it works:

Healthier grocery purchases. Here’s how it works:

Each month, the Healthy Foods Card is automatically loaded with $50; unspent money doesn’t roll over to the next month Shop at participating stores for approved grocery items Swipe the Healthy Foods Card at the checkout to pay for purchases

Each month, the Healthy Foods Card is automatically loaded with $50; unspent money doesn’t roll over to the next month Shop at participating stores for approved grocery items Swipe the Healthy Foods Card at the checkout to pay for purchases

Call a licensed Humana sales agent

Call a licensed Humana sales agent

Each month, the Healthy Foods Card is automatically loaded with $50; unspent money doesn’t roll over to the next month Shop at participating stores for approved grocery items Swipe the Healthy Foods Card at the checkout to pay for purchases

Tommy Knight 870 ‑425‑6079 (TTY: 711)

Call a licensed Humana sales agent

Tommy Knight 870 ‑ 425‑ 6079 (TTY: 711)

Each month, the Healthy Foods Card is automatically loaded with $50; unspent money doesn’t roll over to the next month Shop at participating stores for approved grocery items Swipe the Healthy Foods Card at the checkout to pay for purchases

Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. tommyk@affordins.com

Call a licensed Humana sales agent

Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. tommyk@affordins.com

Tommy Knight 870 ‑425‑6079 (TTY: 711) Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. tommyk@affordins.com

Tommy Knight 870 425 6079 (TTY: 711) Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. tommyk@affordins.com

A more human way to healthcare™

A more human way to healthcare™

No amounts on the Healthy Foods Card can be used to purchase Medicare-covered prescriptions or services, nor can it be converted to cash.

A more human way to healthcare™

No amounts on the Healthy Foods Card can be used to purchase Medicare-covered prescriptions or services, nor can it be converted to cash.

Humana is a Coordinated Care plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in this Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Applicable to Humana Gold Plus SNP-DE H5619-123 (HMO D-SNP). At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable Federal Civil Rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, marital status or religion. English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1‑877‑320 ‑1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al )1‑877‑320 ‑1235 (TTY: 711). 繁體中文 (Chinese): 注意：如果您使用繁體中文

No amounts on the Healthy Foods Card can be used to purchase Medicare-covered prescriptions or services, nor can it be converted to cash.

No amounts on the Healthy Foods Card can be used to purchase Medicare-covered prescriptions or services, nor can it be converted to cash. Humana is a Coordinated Care plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in this Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Applicable to Humana Gold Plus SNP-DE H5619-123 (HMO D-SNP). At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable Federal Civil Rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, marital status or religion. English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1‑877‑320‑1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al )1‑877‑320‑1235 (TTY: 711). 繁體中文 (Chinese): 注意：如果您使用繁體中文 ，您可以免費 獲得語言援助服務 。請致電 1‑877‑320‑1235 (TTY: 711) 。

Humana is a Coordinated Care plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in this Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Applicable to Humana Gold Plus SNP-DE H5619-123 (HMO D-SNP). At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable Federal Civil Rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, marital status or religion. English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1 877‑320 ‑1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al )1 877‑320 ‑1235 (TTY: 711). 繁體中文 (Chinese): 注意：如果您使用繁體中文 ，您可以免費獲得語言援助 服務 。請致電 1‑877‑320 ‑1235 (TTY: 711) 。

Humana is a Coordinated Care plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in this Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Applicable to Humana Gold Plus SNP-DE H5619-123 (HMO D-SNP). At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable Federal Civil Rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, marital status or religion. English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1‑877‑320‑1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla

711) 。

A more human way to healthcare™

The Healthy Foods Card benefit provides an allowance to purchase approved healthy foods and may help you eat healthier

The Healthy Foods

benefit provides an allowance to purchase approved healthy foods and may help you eat healthier

Shannon Nachtigal (left), Baxter Regional Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, and Ella Brashears, student intern.

BY DWAIN HEBDA

COURTESY

(Opposite page) The White Coat Program is a selective cohort designed for students with a passion for entering the healthcare field.

(This page, from top) Dr. Jake Long, superintendent, Mountain Home Public Schools.

Students in the White Coat Program are exposed to medical coursework in addition to other required curriculum, augmenting classroom work with handson learning at the hospital.

A FEW YEARS AGO, MOUNTAIN HOME WAS JUST LIKE A LOT OF SMALL TOWNS IN ARKANSAS, STRUGGLING TO RETAIN THEIR BEST AND BRIGHTEST YOUNG PEOPLE. But times have changed, thanks to steps taken by the local high school, community college and employers such as Baxter Regional. Now, in the ongoing effort to grow and retain the next generation of healthcare professionals, the hospital has taken a leading role in partnerships developing students’ career focuses.

“There are really amazing partnerships that exist here in Mountain Home, starting with the high school,” said Shannon Nachtigal, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Baxter Regional Vice President/ Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. “Mountain Home High School has, among oth er groups, a healthcare group of students that throughout their high school track take courses that match what they’ll take in college and what

they’ll do when they get out of school.”

The partnership between the high school and the local hospital has yielded its own group, the White Coat Program, a selective cohort designed for stu dents with a passion for entering the healthcare field. So named because participants are presented with their own white lab coat along with a stetho scope and blood pressure cuff, students are exposed to medical coursework in addition to other required curriculum, augmenting classroom work with hands-on learning at the hospital.

“Students start early in their high school career, working toward this as the pinnacle of their high school experience,” said Sarah Brozynski, Baxter Regional’s Director of Education. “They start in the 9th and 10th grade, taking an introduction to healthcare, then progress to anatomy and physiolo gy. Those are all prerequisites they have to have be fore they can even apply to the White Coat Program.

“Then, there’s an application process, and those

“The White Coat Program, our flagship program, is an elite group compared to those I’ve seen around the country. The hospital has unbelievable training, equipment and simulation labs that allow our kids to have real experiences. Those types of experiences we cannot duplicate in the classroom, so the partnership that we have with the hospital is definitely something of great priority.”

—Dr. Jake Long, Superintendent Mountain Home Public Schools

page) Students have the opportunity to perform their first Code Blue practice in the Ed & Gayle Goodman Sim Center at Baxter Regional.

(This page, from top)

Tenille Rauls, Medical Professions teacher, Mountain Home High School. Students are able to practice for medical emergencies with the help of training equipment and scenarios introduced by Baxter Regional Emergency Services personnel.

who are chosen for the program continue their medical studies, including on Fridays when they will be doing classwork via zoom in conjunction with Harvard Medical School. They’re also in the hospital on Tuesdays and Thursdays.”

While in those hospital-based classes, students are exposed to learning scenarios usually reserved for college-level students.

“We bring them into the hospital and expose them to its different parts, from the emergen cy room to the lab,” Nachtigal said. “We have a high-fidelity sim lab now where we do all kinds of Code Blue practice. Code Blue is when a patient

has a respiratory or cardiac arrest. Students can be the providers in that code, one of them giving the medicines, one doing CPR, various roles.”

The popularity and success of the White Coat Program served as a model for another training pro gram, this time focusing on producing more nurses. The program identifies Mountain Home high school ers to study college-level nursing courses in their last semester of high school. They then move into one semester of study at Arkansas State University Mountain Home to complete their training as a Licensed Practical Nurse, after which time they work for Baxter Regional for a minimum of one year.

(Opposite

“These programs have been a game-changer for students, to get a grasp, to get a vision for their future. One student of mine said he had no idea what he wanted to do before this program; he’s now finishing EMT school which had not even been on his radar previously. I talked to him last week, and he is on fire. It’s completely changed his life.”

—Tenille Rauls, APRN Medical Professions Teacher, Mountain Home High School

“Nursing school is no easy road,” Nachtigal said. “If you’re having to worry about choosing between working to pay bills or studying, the working to pay bills comes first. The other thing that this pro gram helps is confidence. I can’t tell you how many stories there are of nurses working here who never would have believed they could do it had they not had people around them giving them praise and supporting them.”

As icing on the cake, all three entities have worked together to ensure students generate no student debt as a result of studying college courses in high school

and thanks to scholarships made possible through the Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation, which cov ers any costs left remaining after other scholarships.

“Our whole mission here at the Foundation is to support the hospital and its needs,” said Barney Larry, Foundation Executive Director. “One of the greatest things that we can do is ensure there are enough nurses at the bedside, and that’s ex actly what we are trying to do. We’ve committed $600,000 for the initial investment but are willing to do another $600,000 if needed because it does exactly what our mission is all about.”

(Above, from top) Dr. Robin Myers, Chancellor, ASUMountain Home.

Students are provided access to the Ed and Gayle Goodman Simulation Center at Baxter Regional, a state-of-the-art training facility that provides access to detailed, simulated environments using advanced medical manikins.

n

“It’s a concept that’s not brand new to our country or even to our state, but the way we’re doing it is new and different in how we’re supporting this and how we’re supporting the students. In that sense, this program is totally brand new, something that other people aren’t yet doing here in Arkansas nor around the country.”

—Dr. Robin Myers Chancellor, ASU-Mountain Home

AS ICING ON THE CAKE, ALL THREE ENTITIES HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO ENSURE STUDENTS GENERATE NO STUDENT DEBT AS A RESULT OF STUDYING COLLEGE COURSES IN HIGH SCHOOL ...

Experience a place where balance is OUR way of lifE Mountain Home has a life of its own, and you can feel it. You can feel it in its wind, in its wilderness and along its rivers, lakes and trails. You can feel it in the people. Now imagine unwinding here after your shift with the neighbors, the nature, and a world-class team of caregivers who make up the heartbeat of Mountain Home.

INTERNATIONAL NURSING PROGRAM

BRINGING EXPERIENCED RN

TO BAXTER REGIONAL

BY DEBORAH STANUCH

HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUD ING BAXTER REGIONAL, ARE CHALLENGED BY A SHORTAGE OF EXPERIENCED NURSES, MADE WORSE BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. To fill the nursing shortage, hospitals have been relying on “traveling nurses,” a temporary and expensive solution.

As the demand for experienced nurses increases, hospitals are looking for creative solutions to their staffing shortages. Kim Beavers, Nurse Recruiter at Baxter Regional, said the hospital will be participat ing in an international nursing program that brings experienced registered nurses to the United States from abroad. The program, which is being used with success at hospitals across the country, uses a third party recruiting company to interview and careful ly vet all candidates, their credentials, background and experience. The RNs have the equivalent of a bachelors degree in the US, have passed background checks, their employment history has been verified, each has been interviewed by a US visa representative and holds a green card.

Shannon Nachtigal, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Baxter Regional Vice President/Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, said the nurses have a minimum five years acute care experience, are seasoned, competent and ready to work at the bedside.

“It’s a two way interview,” said Nachtigal. “We have to feel comfortable and they have to feel comfortable, too. I am not looking at a short term fix; I am looking at these nurses wanting to stay at Baxter Regional, and I’m pretty confident they will want to stay.”

Jay Ortega is an RN who graduated from Notre Dame University in Cotobato City, Philippines.

The nurses, who sign a 2 1/2 year con tract to work at Baxter Regional, have researched our hospital and communi ty, too, said both Nachtigal and Beavers. They are impressed with the hospital’s Magnet status, our schools and every thing the community has to offer.

The first of thirteen nurses coming to the hospital through the program arrived in June, with most expected by the end of fall, according to Beavers. They are from the Philippine Islands, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates with some bringing their families, who also must pass back ground checks, hold visas and green cards.

One of the first nurses to come to Baxter Regional is Jay Ortega who holds a BSN from Notre Dame University in Cotobato City, Philippines. A nurse since 2011, he said, “It’s amazing to be assigned to Baxter Regional, a Magnet Hospital. It’s a privilege and honor for me to be able to apply my college education and nurs ing experience at a Magnet hospital.”

A bachelor, Ortega is impressed with Mountain Home. “For a small community Mountain Home has a lot to offer.”

“I’ve been a nurse for over 33 years, and over my career, I’ve worked with nurses from the Philippines, Vietnam and other Asian cultures,” said Nachtigal. “I have al ways been impressed by their work ethic. I have found them dependable, consci entious, and hard working with an excel lent professional standard. I’m impressed with that culture and the way they take care of patients.” n

“IT’S AMAZING TO BE ASSIGNED TO BAXTER REGIONAL, A MAGNET HOSPITAL. IT’S A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO APPLY MY COLLEGE EDUCATION AND NURSING EXPERIENCE AT A MAGNET HOSPITAL.”

– Jay Ortega, RN

Baxter Regional Wellness

KEEP

DIABETICS CAN BENEFIT FROM REGULAR EXERCISE

Moving

BY DEBORAH STANUCH

DIABETES IS A LIFE-THREATEN ING DISEASE THAT AFFECTS 37.3 MILLION U.S. CITIZENS, OR OVER 11% OF THE COUNTRY’S POPULA TION, ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. Additionally, 8.5 million people remain undiagnosed, and 96 mil lion adults are considered diabetic.

Locally, in Baxter and Marion counties, 10% of the total population and 25% of adults over the age of 65 are diagnosed as diabetic, according to Jodi Bodenhamer, APRN, CDCES, Reppell Diabetes Education Coordinator.

Diabetes comes in two forms. Type 1, formerly called “juvenile onset” or “insulin dependent” diabetes, is an autoimmune dis order with absolute insulin deficiency. One out of 10 diabetics have Type 1, which is usually diagnosed before the age of 20. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder affecting 9 out of 10 diabetics. Formerly called “adult onset” or “non-insulin dependent,” it is usu ally diagnosed after the age of 40.

“People can die from diabetes,” said

Bodenhamer. “The five biggest risks from both types of diabetes include heart at tack, stroke, amputation, kidney failure and blindness. But we can teach patients self-management and give them the tools they need to control their disease, starting with diet and exercise. All diabetes patients can benefit from exercise, even children.”

“I often see diabetics, especially newly diagnosed diabetics, come to the gym be cause they heard exercise can help them control and lower blood sugar levels,” said Jonny Harvey, Occupational Health Coordinator at Baxter Regional.

“Exercise can help lower and control blood sugar levels by increasing insulin and glucose usage. The complicated part for diabetics is, while exercise will bring down blood sugar, when you took your

medication, last ate, what and when you ate can affect how your body and blood sugars will react.

“It’s important to work with a profes sional trainer before beginning an exercise program. The trainer needs to know, is the diabetic’s blood sugar under control? Do they regularly monitor their blood sug ars? What other health conditions do they have? This all needs to be considered with a diabetic client’s exercise program.”

Diabetics are prone to foot infections and need to care for their feet before and following exercise, said Harvey, who cau tions against activities that increase the risk of injury. He also stresses the importance of wearing an ID, especially when exercising and to make your trainer aware of your condition. He suggests letting others you

“Proper diet and exercise can enable a diabetic who is not insulin dependent to decrease or eliminate medications completely.”

— Jonny Harvey, Occupational Health Coordinator at Baxter Regional

exercise with know of your condition, what to watch for and what to do in the event you have a diabetic episode.

“Lots of great athletes have been dia betics,” said Harvey. He mentioned pro fessional football players like Jay Cutler, Jake Byrne and Noah Gray; baseball play ers Ron Santo, James “Catfish” Hunter and Jackie Robinson; and race car drivers Jamie Dick and Conor Daly.

“The exercise guidelines are mostly the same for diabetics as non-diabetics, there just needs to be adjustments for health conditions,” said Harvey. “Follow the guidelines of 30 minutes of moderate, aer obic activity five days a week. Start slow, do stretch exercises, light weight lifting and body resistance. Just do some physical activity to keep diabetes under control.

“Proper diet and exercise can enable a diabetic who is not insulin dependent to decrease or eliminate medications com pletely,” according to Harvey. “A poor diet and lack of exercise can cause problems with insulin sensitivity, and diabetics are often taking blood pressure and cholester ol medications.

“For diabetics and non-diabetics, proper diet and exercise causes weight loss. When someone loses weight and is able to main tain a healthy weight, they eliminate or re duce their need for many medications.” n

It’s important to work with a professional trainer before beginning an exercise program. The trainer needs to know, is the diabetic’s blood sugar under control?”

— Jonny Harvey

Baxter Regional Nutrition

In Season Dishes

BY JAMES STEFIUK

Creamy Kale and Mushroom Cavatappi with Kidney Beans

INGREDIENTS:

1, 8-ounce package fresh Cavatappi pasta (any type will do)

4 tablespoon butter, divided 3 cloves garlic, minced, divided 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced 3 cups kale, roughly chopped 2 tablespoons A.P. flour 1 teaspoon herbs de Provence 1 ½ cups heavy cream

Salt and pepper to taste ½ cup prepared kidney beans 3 tablespoons olive oil ¼ cup mushroom or chicken stock ¼ cup flat leaf parsley, chopped Shaved parmesan for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Set aside.

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter over mediumhigh heat. Add one clove of the garlic and sauté for a minute until fragrant. Add the mushrooms and kale and sauté for 5–10 minutes, until mushrooms are golden brown and the kale has softened. Remove from pan to a plate and set aside.

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the pan and melt again over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and sauté for a minute until fragrant. Add the flour and herbs de Provence. Stir for a minute to cook out the flour taste.

Slowly add the cream, whisking to incorporate. Let the mixture simmer until thickened. Season with salt and pepper.

Toss the sauce, pasta, mushrooms and kidney beans together. Add the olive oil and stock as needed if the sauce gets too thick. Garnish with the chopped parsley and shaved parmesan. Serve immediately.

It’s time to harvest this season’s vegetables and make the most of your crop, with these delicious summer time dishes.

Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta

INGREDIENTS:

8 cups cubed ripe seedless watermelon (about an 8-pound watermelon)

1 ½ cups sliced seedless cucumber (half moons)

½ cup thinly sliced red onion

4 ounces feta cheese crumbles

Zest of 1 lemon

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

3 tablespoons olive oil

8 basil leaves, divided Sea salt, for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

Roughly chop half of the basil and reserve the other half for garnish.

Place all ingredients into a large mixing bowl and toss to mix.

Arrange the watermelon, onions and cucumbers on a platter. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil before serving and top with remaining basil. Enjoy!

Elotes – Mexican Street Corn

INGREDIENTS:

6 to 8 medium ears sweet corn, husks removed ½ cup Mexican crema, or sour cream ½ cup mayonnaise ½ cup chopped cilantro

1 clove garlic, minced ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle pepper, to taste

2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest, from 1 lime

2 tablespoons lime juice, from 1 lime ½ cup cotija cheese, crumbled Lime wedges, to serve

DIRECTIONS:

Pre-heat grill to 400 F; clean the grates once it has heated.

To make the sauce, whisk together the crema, mayonnaise, cilantro, garlic, chipotle pepper, lime zest and lime juice. Taste and season the mixture with salt if needed. Set aside.

Place the husked corn directly onto grill grates. Grill the corn for about 3 minutes, undisturbed, or until kernels begin to turn golden brown and look charred. Turn over and repeat. When all sides are browned, remove from the grill onto a plate.

Using a brush or a spoon, coat each ear of corn with the crema mixture. Sprinkle with crumbled cojita cheese. Sprinkle with additional chipotle pepper if desired. Serve immediately with extra lime wedges. n

Chaplain’s Corner

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?

BY REV. RANDALL D. LUDWIG, DMIN, BCC

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them de bating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:28-31

I FIND IT MOST INTRIGUING THAT JESUS COULD NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION ASKED OF HIM WITHOUT IN CLUDING HIS “SECOND PART.” This portion of his answer is known as the Golden Rule.

It doesn’t matter if you are of the Christian faith or not; every ma jor world religion has a version of the Golden Rule. Basically stated: We all should treat others as we would want to be treated. From Christianity to Judaism to Hinduism and all stops in between, there is a basic theology of loving your neighbor as yourself.

If we wish to be loved, we must give love. If we wish to be re spected, we must respect all persons — even those we dislike. If we wish to be forgiven, we must also forgive. If we wish others to speak kindly of us, we must speak kindly of them. If we wish to be fulfilled in our lives, we must share generously with others. If we wish to reap the rewards of our Heavenly Father’s love, we must truly love all God’s people.

The Golden Rule seeks to shock us out of our selfishness and

worldliness and create in us a true passion for the welfare of our fellow men, women and children around the world. Universal love is at the very heart of Jesus’ teachings; it is God’s earthly work for us. What matters to God is our love for Him and our love for each other. Wealth, power and status count for nothing in the kingdom of God. When we truly love our neighbors, we do our part to make the world a better place, and we find our own fulfillment in life.

I think this is the guiding principle behind all hospitals in gen eral. However, Baxter Regional stands as a beacon of light to the thousands of people in North Central Arkansas and Southern Missouri in need of healing and hope. Baxter Regional has been recognized and awarded honors from many national organizations and commissions as being one of the best hospitals in the nation.

What makes Baxter Regional so unique is its many programs that display the Golden Rule. Programs that offer service and sup port like our 500+ army of volunteers — people who give of them selves freely every day to ensure that our patients and families are as comfortable as possible.

Or the programs offered by our Community Support Houses and Community Paramedics. From diabetes education to cancer sup port, aging to women’s education and to in-home wellness … all these services, and the people who make them happen, are prime examples of showing love for your neighbor.

Baxter Regional even identifies patients who may be food in secure and supplies them with food and resources, once they are discharged, to help them overcome their need — all free of charge.

WHAT HOSPITAL DOES THAT?!

Baxter Regional is a unique place because every one of its near ly 2,000 employees lives by the motto when they come to work every day: “I was blessed to be a blessing to someone today.” n

Baxter Regional stands as a beacon of light to the thousands of people in North Central Arkansas and Southern Missouri in need of healing and hope.

Jessica Johnson, APRN at the Fairlamb Senior Health Clinic

Sue Rodden, Continuity of Care Director

John Hilvert, Secondary Market Rehab Director works with a patient during physical therapy.