Insight Spring 2021 by Wheelhouse Publishing

OZARKS HEALTHCARE

SPRING 2021 | VOL. 1 | ISSUE 1

Women’s NEW

CENTER

Ozark Healthcare’s four obstetrician-gynecologists are excited, along with their patients, for what the new facility offers the community.

HEART AND LUNG CENTER

Providing Advanced Care Where You Are

LOSS TURNED TO LOVE

Grieving couple donates CuddleCot

ADAM MATTISON Recounts New York Makeshift Hospital

OZH

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS 6 Letter from the President & CEO

OZH Newcomers

Community

Volunteers

Wellness

Mental Health

Last Page

34 FEATURES 22

Pulmonologists Give Advanced Care Doctors aim to provide patients with the best lung and respiratory care.

New Women’s Center: Comfortable, Convenient, Caring The new 20,000 square feet Center provides more room for labor and delivery, as well as spaces for lactation and, eventually, education.

ON THE COVER:

The King of Queens Small-towner experiences pandemic life in the Big Apple.

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From Left: Dr. Reah Kurian,

Dr. Kristyn Menendez, Dr. Dennis Albino, and Dr. Brian Israel. Photography by Jason Masters

INSIGHT OZARKS HEALTHCARE

A PUBLICATION OF

1100 Kentucky Ave. • West Plains, MO 65775 417.256.9111

ozarkshealthcare.com

SPRING 2021 VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 1 OZARKS HEALTHCARE SENIOR LEADERS OMC President/Chief Executive Officer Thomas Keller

VP/Chief Operating Officer/ Chief Nursing Officer Kurt Abbey

President of OMC Medical Group Antony Joseph, MD

Chief Medical Officer William McGee, MD

Vice President of Finance Nichole Cook

Vice President of Clinics Todd Tamalunas

INSIGHT EDITORIAL Executive Editor Melody Hubbell

Associate Editors

Hannah Martin, Brittany Simers, and Kim Wood

Contributing Writers

Joanne Bratton, Adria English, and Dwain Hebda

Contributing Copy Editor Melinda Lanigan

Contributing Photographers

Jason Masters and Kevin Pieper

Contributing Designer Ashlee Nobel

Published by

WHEELHOUSE PUBLISHING 501-766-0859 WheelhousePublishing.com

To advertise call 501-766-0859 or email sarah@wheelhousepublishing.com.

Ozarks Healthcare complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

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SPRING 2021 | INSIGHT |

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO

Focused on Your Health

From first opening our doors as West Plains Memorial Hospital on March 2, 1959, to growing to an organization with over 1,300 employees and serving an eight-county area in south-central Missouri and north-central Arkansas, we have experienced many historical milestones in Ozarks Healthcare’s history. Today, you hold another piece of history in your hands.

elcome to the first edition of Insights, a magazine built specifically for you and your health. Just as its name suggests, this publication was created with the purpose of providing you a unique perspective of your local health system. Through the previous year especially, our organization has made strides to keep growing for you — our community — while continuing our mission of providing exceptional, compassionate care. Over the past few months and previous year, Ozarks Healthcare faced unprecedented times with the rest of the world as we navigated the advance of COVID-19 in our community. We opened our first COVID-19 unit, provided new testing methods and later administered thousands of COVID-19 vaccines to the most vulnerable in our community. We opened our new Women’s Center, the first por-

tion of the most significant expansion in our medical system’s history. We also announced the launch of a branding transformation from Ozarks Medical Center to Ozarks Healthcare. Ozarks Healthcare points to our coworkers, our patients, their families, our medical staff, partners and the communities we serve. Our focus is more than a hospital or medical buildings; it is a focus on people and their futures. I believe in the power of stories and how they connect us. In a time when connection is perhaps more valuable than ever, I am proud to present this inaugural publication filled with insight about our organization’s growth, our services and the people behind the compassionate care we are honored to provide daily. I hope you enjoy this first issue. Most importantly, I hope our focus on your health, future and community shines through with each page turned.

“

I believe in the power of stories and how they connect us. In a time when connection is perhaps more valuable than ever, I am proud to present this inaugural publication ...

”

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TOM KELLER President and Chief Executive Officer Ozarks Healthcare

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CONTRIBUTORS Adria English WRITER

Adria English grew up in Florida and migrated to Arkansas to attend college at Harding University, afterward adopting the Natural State as her own. She holds a master’s degree in English and enjoys writing, reading and teaching, practices yoga daily and kayaks whenever possible. She lives in Mountain Home with her husband, Garrett, daughter, Nenive, two black cats and unnumbered houseplants.

Ashlee Nobel 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. She launched her online shop Lee Lee Arts + Design where you can find apparel, art prints and home accents with her designs. Past times include riding bikes, yoga, gardening and traveling.

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.

Joanne Bratton WRITER

Joanne Bratton, a freelance writer living in the Ozarks, worked as an award-winning journalist, national newspaper correspondent and magazine feature writer. Throughout nearly two decades of professional writing, she aims to share stories in a meaningful way.

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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.

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.

Kevin Pieper PHOTOGRAPHER

Kevin Pieper a national award-winning photographer, writer and speaker with more than 25 years of experience. Kevin has published in Reader’s Digest, several National Geographic 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. SPRING 2021 | INSIGHT |

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NEWCOMERS

NEWCOMERS ARMING UP THE HOSPITAL FOR YOUR TOTAL CARE B Y DWAIN HEBDA

Dr. Troy Caron

ORTHOPEDIC AND SPINE SURGEON

Ozarks Healthcare Orthopedics and Spine When Dr. Troy Caron arrived at Ozarks Healthcare, he brought with him a medical skillset — orthopedic spine surgery — that was a first for the health system. He said offering such advanced medical care in a smaller community says a lot about the health system. “Having worked in a big city, patients had to drive four or five hours to get their surgeries done,” he said. “I can do all of those surgeries here, so those patients local to this area don’t have to drive to St. Louis or Springfield.” Caron graduated from medical school at the University of New England in Maine and completed his residency in orthopedics in Toledo, Ohio. He’s also completed fellowships in Florida, Seattle and Harvard University in Boston. He is currently pursuing his MBA online through the University of Southern California. Since arriving in West Plains, Caron has been actively pushing to increase the sophistication of care in his area of expertise. “My staff here and the staff in the hospital are excellent,” he said. “We just got approval for use of computerized navigation equipment during surgery, so I’m excited to start using that. It’s going to be safer for patients, and we can take on more difficult cases.”

Dr. Nashmia Riaz ENDOCRINOLOGIST

Ozarks Endocrinology

When deciding on what medical field to enter, Dr. Nashmia Riaz was looking for a specialty that allowed her to do the most good. Endocrinology checked all of her boxes. “With endocrinology, there are multiple organ systems that are involved. Also, it plays a huge part in preventative medicine,” she said. “When you treat diabetes early on and you treat thyroid and things like that, it really improves the quality of life. That aspect really attracted me.” Riaz joined Ozarks Healthcare in the summer of 2020 after fellowships in geriatrics and endocrinology at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital and UTMB Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, respectively. She said the combination of opportunity and environment attracted her to West Plains. “They did not have any endocrinologists over here, so I felt that I could really contribute in helping patients,” she said. “Back home, my husband and I both lived in smaller towns, so we really wanted to move to a place that was nice and calm and slow, not the big city.” Riaz, who graduated medical school in her native Pakistan, completed her residency through Michigan State University. She is married to fellow Ozarks Healthcare physician Dr. Hussain Ibrahim.

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Dr. Praveen Datar PULMONOLOGIST

Ozarks Healthcare Heart and Lung Center Widely traveled and a veteran of several prestigious medical assignments, Dr. Praveen Datar brings advanced expertise to his work at the Ozarks Healthcare Heart and Lung Center. The native of India said he’s found a welcoming environment in West Plains, one in which he is eager to develop his practice. “I wanted to practice in a small hospital where I have the potential to be involved more in developing policies and establishing systems,” he said. Datar, who completed his medical training at Osmania Medical College in India, previously worked for Texas Medical Center, Houston, where he served as a fellow in pulmonary critical care. While there, he experienced first-hand the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to develop medical policies and working in the viral intensive care unit. “The scope of practice at Ozarks Healthcare is very good. They help the physicians a lot in providing things that we want to do,” he said. “We have navigational bronchoscopy, endobronchial ultrasound, all the bronchoscopies which aren’t even seen in some of the big hospitals. Ozarks Healthcare is willing to provide these platforms enabling physicians to do more things.” Away from the office, Datar de-stresses with family and art, specializing in oil painting and charcoal drawing. SPRING 2021 | INSIGHT |

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NEWCOMERS

“

What appeals to me about Ozarks Healthcare is that it provides me a great opportunity to provide the same specialties and services in West Plains that you find in larger metro areas.

”

Dr. David Adam Jones RADIATION ONCOLOGIST

Ozarks Healthcare Cancer Treatment Center A native of Delaware, Dr. David Adam Jones received his undergrad from Clemson University in South Carolina and attended graduate school at the University of Virginia studying biomedical engineering. After that, he earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, one of the oldest medical schools in the country. He completed his medical residency at the University of Kentucky. “Ozarks Healthcare just felt like a good fit,” he said of his decision to come to West Plains in November 2020. “I saw a lot of opportunity in this role because to have a cancer clinic, you need a radiation oncologist. It’s also an impressive medical community; I was surprised to find out Ozarks Healthcare had a neurologist and a heart surgeon. I’ve been at larger health systems that didn’t have that medical expertise.” Jones has hit the ground running since arriving at the clinic, getting settled in and serving patients. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and 3-year-old daughter. He’s also been known to hit a golf ball or two, and is looking into checking out the local courses as time and weather permit.

Dr. Hussain Ibrahim INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGIST

Ozarks Healthcare Heart and Lung Center A native of Pakistan, Dr. Hussain Ibrahim is one of the newest faces on the Ozarks Healthcare medical team. He arrived in West Plains last summer along with his wife, endocrinologist Dr. Nashmia Riaz, who is also an OZH physician. Ibrahim completed his medical school training at Aga Khan University in Pakistan and his medical residency in internal medicine at Michigan State University/Spectrum Health. From there, he completed a cardiology fellowship at the University of Texas Medical Branch and a second fellowship in interventional cardiology at the University of Miami. “What appeals to me about Ozarks Healthcare is that it provides a great opportunity to provide the same specialties and services in West Plains that you find in larger metro areas,” he said. “That’s very convenient for patients who are local.” Having landed in the role in the middle of the pandemic, Dr. Ibrahim praised the staff for their strict adherence to safety protocols, including wearing masks and requiring COVID-19 testing before procedures. He said these rigorous standards have enabled patients to receive needed treatment in a safe, clean environment. When not working, Ibrahim enjoys several stress-relieving activities, especially traveling and reading.

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Dr. Leslie Marshall DERMATOLOGIST

Ozarks Healthcare Dermatology Missouri native Dr. Leslie Marshall said the combination of delivering top-quality care in a smaller, family atmosphere was a primary attraction to joining Ozarks Healthcare last summer. “Non-melanoma type skin cancers, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma as well as melanoma are all common among my patients, more so than I anticipated,” she said. “We deliver medical care that’s second to none, even though we’re in a rural setting.” Marshall earned her medical degree from A.T. Still University in Kirksville. She completed a residency in dermatology at Still OPTI/Northeast Regional Medical Center, Kirksville, and an internship at Northeast Regional Medical Center. Before that, she earned a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. She said her motivation for going into medicine was to leverage her skills in service to others. “I enjoyed my physician assistant classes, and I decided I really liked the medical field,” she said. “I like the sense of contributing to society, helping people. And there’s a lot of emotional implications of skin disease; seeing people get better is very gratifying.” Away from work, Marshall focuses on her growing family, recreating outdoors and relaxing among the animals on her hobby farm.

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COMMUNITY

GRIEVING COUPLE

TURNS LOSS INTO POSITIVE FOR OTHER FAMILIES B Y DWAIN HEBDA | P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y JASON MASTERS

aige Porter Laub knew something was wrong. The young woman had been through pregnancy before and was well-attuned to how her latest should be coming along. So when she went to bed that evening in January, she could tell something was off. “About 7:30 p.m., I noticed I hadn’t felt a lot of movement,” she said. “Me, being stubborn as ever, I was like, it’s fine. We’re going to wait, and I’ll eat some cookies and he’ll move. He never did.” The next morning, the couple arrived at Ozark Healthcare where they were met by their nurse, Melissa Hadley. “Melissa couldn’t find a heartbeat. So, she got her head nurse, and she couldn’t find the heartbeat,” Paige said. “So then, in probably five minutes, we had our doctor in there to give us the news.” Baby Aaron was born asleep on January 29, 2020. Devastated though they were, Paige and her husband Mark remember being surrounded by love and support through the shock of the loss. “It was amazing,” Paige said. “Melissa was just phenomenal. She stayed by my side through everything and coached me and laughed with me and cried with me. “Dr. Roylance, was just an absolute godsend. I’m pretty sure he cleared his entire morning schedule just to sit up there with us and have uplifting conversations and just be there. He didn’t have to do that.”

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The Laubs noticed the staff kept apologizing for not having a cuddle cot, a device that cools the infant’s body and allows families more time to say goodbye. On the way home, Paige and Mark reflected on the conversation. “As soon as we left the hospital, buying a cuddle cot became our goal,” Paige said. “We didn’t get a whole lot of time with Aaron after he passed away. It was really

“

We didn’t get a whole lot of time with Aaron after he passed away. It was really important for us that other families had that opportunity.

”

important for us that other families had that opportunity.” Seeing as how cuddle cots can range from $3,000 to $6,000 depending on model, the couple couldn’t afford to just write a check for one. Instead, they launched a fundraising campaign in April to purchase the device. They gave themselves a five-year window to raise the tar-

geted amount but reached their goal in just a couple of months, underscoring the power of their story. Mark said the process of raising the money had a therapeutic effect for the couple, too. “At first, I was like, whatever. I don’t think we’re going to be able to get this cuddle cot, but I’ll support you 100 percent, Paige. That’s what my thoughts were,” he said. “We started this out of thin air and the next thing you know, we’re ordering and buying a cuddle cot. “It really helped. It took a little bit of a burden off of me and actually gave us a purpose. And even though Aaron didn’t get to live his life, he still had a purpose, too.” The couple, who is currently expecting and plans to use Ozark Healthcare for the delivery, has other plans to keep Aaron’s memory alive. They’d like to one day start a fund to help cover costs of families whose babies are stillborn. It’s all part of a gradual healing process, Paige said. “I would tell someone going through this that it’s okay not to be okay, but don’t dwell on that either,” she said. “Every child’s life matters and even though a family loses a baby, you can still do things to bring purpose to your life and the life of your child. And that will connect you, even though that child is no longer here on earth.” Opposite Page: Paige Porter Laub and husband Mark.

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VOLUNTEERS

A Heart for Service B Y DWAIN HEBDA | P H O T O G R A P H S C O U R T E S Y O F OZARKS HEALTHCARE

olunteers are the heartbeat of any organization, especially a hospital. And nowhere will you find two bigger hearts for service to others than in Norval Merrick and Mildred Young, who devote their time to making patients and their families feel welcomed during their stay at Ozarks Healthcare. FAITH AND FISH TALES “I like people. I like to try to help people,” said Norval Merrick, 78. “I’m not saying this to just belittle anybody, but I often wonder why a lot of people who sit around the house can’t volunteer to do something. That just kind of amazes me.” Merrick has been a volunteer for nine years, and he never tires of the human encounters that his three-hour shift brings his way.

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“It was three years ago, I guess,” he said. “I wheeled a man out to his car from the wound care center, and we got to talking on the way while waiting for his wife to bring the car around. I said, ‘What’s your hobby?’ He said, ‘I love to fish.’ I said, ‘A lot of those guys do that.’ “He said, ‘I’m going to go fishing this weekend. I really enjoyed this visit with you and I appreciate you wheeling me out here, so I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. I’m going to go fish this weekend, and if I catch some fish I’m going to call back and let you know through the hospital that I caught a bunch of fish.’ We just hit it off. It was a really neat experience.” On this day, the Iowa native is just about to return to duty after some health issues sidelined him for a spell. He can think of no better way to express his gratitude for his healing than to serve someone else.

Above: Norval Merrick, 78, has been a volunteer for nine years. Opposite Page: Mildred Young, 84, has been a volunteer for 20 years.

“I’m finishing up my cancer and as far as I know, I’m doing good,” he said. “They took out a third of my right lung a few years ago, and in 2000 I had bypass surgery. But I’ve been very fortunate. The good Lord has taken care of me, so maybe I can help other people in some small way.”

“

FOREVER YOUNG Few people are better described as a “fixture” at I like to try to be a blessing Ozarks Healthcare than Young. Before she to people when I can. If I can Mildred spent 20 years as a volungive back to people and try to teer here, she put in 30 as an employee, manhelp someone along the way, years aging the laundry. One of that makes me feel good. her daughters, all three grandchildren and eight of 10 great-grandchildren were all born here. But in Young’s eyes, the ledger is square, seeing as how she feels she owes her life to the hospital. “In 1959, my second child was born; the hospital had just opened,” she said. “It opened in March, and

”

she was born in May. And I had a lot of problems during the delivery. If that hospital had not been here, I probably wouldn’t have been here today.” Young is one of the first faces most people see upon entering the hospital. From her seat at the reception desk, she directs traffic, answers questions and often provides an escort to get people where they need to go. “Sometimes when you’re taking people to an area, you get to visit with them a little bit and you get to hear some of their things,” she said. “Maybe there’s just a word that you can say to them that might help them and encourage them along the way. “I like to try to be a blessing to people when I can. If I can give back to people and try to help someone along the way, that makes me feel good.” Now 84 and in robust health, Young has no intention of slowing down. “As long as I can I will do it,” she said. “I’m in pretty good health; I guess my grandchildren keep me young. God has been good to me, and so I just go back out and try to be a help in some way. I guess I’ll just say I have a giving heart.” SPRING 2021 | INSIGHT |

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WELLNESS

Maintaining a Healthy Immune System in a Pandemic B Y DWAIN HEBDA

he body’s immune system is responsible for mounting a defense against infection and disease, including pathogens from influenza and the novel coronavirus. The stronger an immune system, the stronger and faster its response. It is crucial to a person’s health to develop and maintain a strong immune system during normal times as well as during flu season and a pandemic. “Immune systems help us stand against disease,” states Dr. Jennifer Lambert succinctly. Originally from New England, Dr. Lambert has spent her 11 years of practice serving rural Missouri families. She has been with Ozarks Healthcare family practice in West Plains for the last five years. Her recommendations for developing a strong immune system include sleeping well, eating healthily, exercising regularly, continuing routine care and quitting smoking, if applicable. Sleep improves immune health. Adults generally need 7–8 hours of sleep and children more. Not only is the length of sleep important, but so is the quality. Better sleep can be had by abstaining from caffeine, avoiding electronic screen time prior to bedtime and

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creating a relaxing environment to sleep in. Those who struggle with falling asleep or remaining asleep should consult their doctors. A nutritional diet promotes the normal functioning of the immune system. The basics of nutrition, Dr. Lambert says, is a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains. These provide minerals, vitamins, protein and fiber. In general, Dr. If you’re dealing with Lambert considers the underlying depression, that’s greatest benefit to most people could come from going to have a huge impact on simply cleaning up their your ability to fight disease. diets of overly processed foods. “Those are things that you want to avoid,” she explains, because they are often high in sugars and fats that hamper and harm the body, and low in useful nutrients due to processing. In addition to striving for a balanced diet, supplementing with a multivitamin and vitamin C will help build a strong immune system.

“ ”

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While exercise — generally 30–45 minutes of cardiovascular exercise 4–5 times a week— is recommended, Dr. Lambert cautions to “start where you’re at.” Those who are unaccustomed to exercising can begin with walking, stretching and increasing their level of activity over time. Cardiovascular exercise is activity that uses multiple muscle groups and raises the heart rate for a sustained period — it’s the increase in circulation that benefits the immune system. Swimming, hiking, jogging and bicycling are examples. According to Dr. Lambert, beginning to exercise may be the key for most people to strengthen their immune systems, since many people don’t exercise at all. Exercising outside carries the added benefits of fresh air and sunshine and gives a psychological boost, which is important because, as Dr. Lambert notes, health doesn’t exist in a vacuum but is also affected by mental and emotional health. “It’s all so interrelated. If you’re dealing with underlying depression, that’s going to have a huge impact on your ability to fight disease,” she says. It’s beneficial to health overall, therefore, to pursue wholesome activities that produce happiness, and talk with a doctor or seek a therapist if experiencing depression or anxiety. Along with the suggestions to eat well, sleep well and exercise, Dr. Lambert adds that a major factor that negatively affects the immune system is a smoking habit. Because smoking compromises the immune system by increasing inflammation, smoking cessation absolutely improves the body’s ability to fight infection. “It’s a hard one but such a big one,” Dr. Lambert acknowledges. Finally, Dr. Lambert addresses the reluctance that some people have of seeing a healthcare provider because they fear contracting COVID-19 during a visit. First, she emphasizes that doctors’ offices and health clinics are clean and safe environments where they take potential transmission of diseases seriously. Second, Dr. Lambert says, “I encourage people to continue preventative care and routine wellness. Don’t neglect your diabetes care and heart care. If you’re not doing your routine stuff, you’re going to be more prone to get sick.” Along with routine care, Dr. Lambert advises getting an annual flu shot and, when available, a vaccination against COVID-19. SPRING 2021 | INSIGHT |

Above: Pulmonologists Biplab Saha, M.D. (left), and Praveen B. Datar, M.D.

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PULMONOLOGISTS GIVE

ADVANCED CARE AT OZARKS HEALTHCARE HEART AND LUNG CENTER

B Y JOANNE BRATTON | P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y JASON MASTERS

ith the expertise of two pulmonologists at Ozarks Healthcare Heart and Lung Center, patients can receive the care they need, right here at home. That hasn’t always been the case. Before the arrival of pulmonologists Biplab Saha, M.D., and Praveen B. Datar, M.D., patients in need of advanced lung or respiratory care often were transferred to Springfield or St. Louis. But now, patients benefit from advanced procedures — such as navigational bronchoscopy — without needing to drive to a larger city.

“

I was fortunate to see how protocols were written and implemented at bedside to give the utmost quality of care despite the overwhelming stress of dealing with a pandemic...

”

“Both Dr. Saha and Dr. Datar have been wonderful to work with in the clinic,” says Brice Hunt, practice manager of Ozarks Healthcare Heart and Lung Center. “They have been striving to provide exceptional care to their patients and are constantly looking for better ways we can do so in the clinic.” Dr. Saha, a board-certified pulmonologist, joined Ozarks Healthcare in October 2019. He is board-certified in internal medicine and pulmonary disease and board-eligible in critical care medicine. He previously completed a fellowship in pulmonary critical care at Albany Medical Center and College in New York. He completed his residency at Saint Barnabas Medical College in Livingston, New Jersey, and earned his medical degree from Dhaka Medical College and Hospital in Bangladesh. A pulmonologist and critical care specialist, Dr. Datar joined Ozarks Healthcare in July 2020. He is board-certified in internal medicine and board-eligible in pulmonary disease and critical care medicine. Dr. Datar earned his medical degree from Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, India, and completed residencies and a fellowship in pulmonary diseases at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. Most recently, he completed a fellowship in pulmonary critical care at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. The last four months of his critical care medicine fellowship coincided with the country’s early months of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. While there, he worked with some of the best physicians at Baylor College of Medicine managing critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to three hospitals.

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“I was fortunate to see how protocols were written and implemented at bedside to give the utmost quality of care despite the overwhelming stress of dealing with a pandemic, for which a cure was not in sight,” Dr. Datar says. “The processes that were established gave me a great learning experience in confidently managing critically ill COVID-19 patients and how to keep my team motivated to stay on top.” Dr. Saha’s background led to his goal of improving local critical care services and making sure patients receive the care they need. Growing up in Bangladesh, Dr. Saha watched his father, a primary care physician, serve his patients with dedication, day or night. “I never saw him take a vacation,” Saha says. “If patients show up, you just see them. One time he told me, ‘You see patients because you want to help people more than anything else.’” As for themselves, Drs. Saha and Datar aim to give their patients the best care possible. They see adult patients for a range of lung diseases and respiratory conditions, including asthma, COPD, emphysema, bronchitis, lung cancer, interstitial lung diseases, cystic fibrosis, pleural effusion, occupational lung diseases, obstructive sleep apnea and pulmonary hypertension. “Our goal is to make sure our patient population does not have to travel anywhere and take care of them here,” Dr. Saha says. Ozarks Healthcare Heart and Lung Center treats all diseases associated with the lungs and respiratory system. For more information about Ozarks Healthcare’s pulmonology services, call the clinic at (417) 257-5950.

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WOMEN’S CENTER

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NEW WOMEN’S CENTER

Comfortable, Convenient, Caring B Y DWAIN HEBDA

PATIENTS WERE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE OPENING OF THE WOMEN’S CENTER IN DECEMBER. THE NEW CENTER, IN APPROXIMATELY 20,000 SQUARE FEET, PROVIDES MORE ROOM FOR LABOR AND DELIVERY, AS WELL AS SPACES FOR LACTATION AND, EVENTUALLY, EDUCATION.

Opposite Page (from top): A portion of the new waiting area for visitors to Ozarks Healthcare’s new Women’s Center is shown. Featuring 20,000 square feet, the new Ozarks Healthcare Women’s Center includes modern labor and delivery rooms, gynecological surgery facilities, and educational spaces. New technologies and equipment will help advance the deliveries of more than 600 newborns at Ozarks Healthcare. Photography by Kevin Pieper.

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WOMEN’S CENTER

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O Opposite Page (from left): Ozarks Healthcare’s boardcertified gynecologists, obstetricians, and other specialists dedicated to women’s health offer services based on your specific needs. Ozarks Healthcare Women’s Health physicians pictured from left to right: Dr. Reah Kurian, Dr. Kristyn Menendez, Dr. Dennis Albino, and Dr. Brian Israel. Photography by Jason Masters.

Ozarks Healthcare’s four obstetrician-gynecologists are excited, along with their patients, for what the new facility offers the community.

Ozarks Healthcare is fortunate to employ Drs. Reah Kurian, Dennis Albino, Brian Israel and Kristyn Menendez in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Israel has worked for Ozarks Healthcare, formerly Ozarks Medical Center, for nine years, and Dr. Kurian for seven years; Dr. Albino has been employed with Ozarks Healthcare over four years, and Dr. Menendez is new to the practice this year. All have a passion for helping their patients and specifically for working in women’s health and in obstetrics. For Dr. Kurian and Dr. Israel, who come from families of physicians, this is a lifelong interest and they have long been encouraged in their choice of careers.

“BIG-CITY SERVICES FOR A SMALL TOWN.”

Above: New technologies include a new isolette unit to help with temperature regulation of newborns. Photography by Kevin Pieper.

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WOMEN’S CENTER

LARGER AND WELL-EQUIPPED ROOMS ALLOW BIRTHING MOTHERS TO REMAIN IN THE SAME SPACE FOR LABOR, DELIVERY, RECOVERY AND POSTPARTUM CARE. Dr. Albino appreciates West Plains for its calm and quiet, and Dr. Israel, who grew up in a small town in Indiana, says he appreciates the small-town setting. Dr. Kurian concurs, praising the community as friendly and helpful and saying the region is “a great place to raise kids.” Her husband also works for Ozarks Healthcare as a general surgeon, and she feels supported and enabled in maintaining a healthy work/life balance, aided by excellent staff. “We work well as a team,” she shares. “Our entire clinic team is amazing and takes care of patients like their own family.”

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“Care” and “family” are key words for Ozarks Healthcare, which has seen approximately 600 babies delivered annually. The new Center improves the experiences of birthing mothers. “Comfortable,” Dr. Albino calls it; “spacious,” says Dr. Kurian and “convenient,” reports Dr. Israel, noting its location next to the emergency room, with an easy and accessible entrance. Larger and well-equipped rooms allow birthing mothers to remain in the same space for labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum care; lactation suites, along with lactation consultants and counselors, will assist

Above: The Women’s Center houses five Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum rooms, plus one Labor and Delivery Procedure Room. Photography by Kevin Pieper.

THE OPENING OF THE NEW WOMEN’S CENTER COMES AT A FORTUITOUS TIME, AS IT FREES THE FORMER LABOR AND DELIVERY UNIT FOR USE AS AN ISOLATED COVID CARE UNIT.

Above: The Women’s Center is the first portion of the most significant expansion in the medical center’s history to be completed. In addition to its medical facilities, the Women’s Center includes a lactation suite with three bays and a new education space. Photography by Kevin Pieper.

nursing mothers; and a new isolette expands staff ’s ability to care for preterm infants. Dr. Kurian states that the Center is an excellent resource for the area, calling it “big-city services for a small town.” Everyone, staff as well as patients, is excited about the new space. While the doctors’ offices still are based out of the Women’s Healthcare Clinic on Gibson Street, Dr. Israel estimates that half of the work they do is comprised of delivering babies, which will see them utilizing the new facilities in the Women’s Center to the advantage of all.

Plans for the Center were developed about two years ago, and construction began a year ago prior to the start of the pandemic. The opening of the new Women’s Center now comes at a fortuitous time, as it both frees the former labor and delivery unit for use as an isolated Covid Care Unit as well as provides more space for necessary procedures at a time when more space is often advisable. The Women’s Center was the first portion of Ozarks Healthcare’s expansion, and its successful completion marks a significant milestone for the expansion project. SPRING 2021 | INSIGHT |

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MENTAL HEALTH

Coping, Sharing and Caring Myriah Wallace offered the following suggestions for promoting mental health in children.

START EARLY

Not every kindergartner deals with anxiety, but mental health issues can set on early in life. Develop regular communication patterns with your tot to see how they’re feeling and to develop trust patterns for when they are older.

Under Pressure PARENTS REMINDED TO WATCH FOR MENTAL HEALTH WARNING SIGNS B Y DWAIN HEBDA

he events of the past year have been tough on everyone, not the least of which are kids and teens. Separated from their peer group at school and deprived of favorite activities such as sports, the weight of 2020 has been a heavy thing to bear. Parents should be on the lookout for signs that their children’s mental health may need a little attention, said Myriah Wallace, clinical manager for Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center. “I have never seen demand for mental health care as it is right now. The need is absolutely tremendous,” she said. “Kids are especially affected. Being cooped up with the same people and everybody’s stressed out, the kids are really feeling the effects of the pandemic now. We’re seeing a lot more behavior problems.” Wallace said mental health issues such as depression and anxiety can appear at a surprisingly young age — the clinic sees patients as young as 6 — which can complicate the process of identifying problems. “Depression will sometimes look a little different in kids, especially the young ones,” Wallace said. “They can’t verbalize quite like an adult can, so some of their symptoms might manifest as physical things. They might say their belly hurts, their head hurts, they might have gastro-

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GET PHYSICAL

There’s a direct correlation between physical activity and mental health. Make sure kids are getting less video game time and more fresh air playtime. Limit binge-watching late into the night to promote healthy sleep patterns. And, keep a handle on sodas and junk food.

TREAT YOURSELF

intestinal issues, diarrhea, constipation and appetite problems. “In other kids, you may notice a rapid increase in weight gain or weight loss and a loss of pleasure in things they used to enjoy. They may have used to love to play baseball, and it just doesn’t even get them excited anymore. Often with depression, you think of kids crying or just constantly wanting to kill themselves or talk about death and dying, but that’s not always the case.” The parent’s job doesn’t get any easier as the child ages, either. Wallace noted teenagers are perfectly capable of describing what’s going on with them, but as anyone who’s lived through this phase knows, they aren’t always eager to talk about what’s bothering them. “Dealing with teenagers, that’s the million-dollar question,” she said. “A lot of parents, if they want to let the kids know that it’s safe to talk about something, will say, ‘Hey, you’re not going to be in trouble with me right now. I’m just trying to help.’ Take a different approach; forget about discipline or frustration. Just let them know it’s safe to talk about things.” Of course, children are in a constant state of development, and sometimes behaviors can just be a reaction to the moment or a situation. Wallace said a good way to tell these momentary episodes

Parents tend to push their own issues to the side in favor of their children, but this can backfire with serious consequences. Take steps to tend your own mental and emotional health — you’re no good to your child if you’re not OK yourself.

GET HELP

Don’t try to solve everything on your own. If you or someone in your family is struggling, access professional help, such as Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center. Find them at OzarksHealthcare.com or reach them 24/7 at 1-800-356-5395.

apart from real mental distress is longevity — any pronounced change in mood, behavior, sleep patterns or appetite that last for more than a week or two may be a sign that something deeper is going on. But, she’s quick to add, there is no hardand-fast rule for this, and parents should not discount their gut feelings if they think something is wrong. “The stigma of mental health has gone down across the board, and we’re seeing parents access help readily. Parents are really looking for that whole team approach, to do what they can to help decrease mental health problems at home because they recognize the benefits of it,” she said. “So, yeah, trust your gut. That’s a big one.”

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T hE

e S E

SMALL-TOWNER EXPERIENCES PANDEMIC LIFE IN THE BIG APPLE B Y DWAIN HEBDA | P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y JASON MASTERS

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ast spring, as Adam Mattison waited out a layover in Georgia, his phone buzzed. On the other

end was the recruiter he’d called two weeks prior to raise his hand to go to New York and provide critical relief to overrun healthcare workers there. “Originally, I was to go up there and help out by working in a clinic, screening people,” Mattison remembers. “But when they called, they were like, ‘Hey, your role changed. You’re going to be treating COVID patients in a makeshift hospital.’ I was like, OK, will you teach me how? They’re like, ‘Don’t worry. No one knows how to treat COVID.’” Whatever illusions Mattison may have had before that moment crumbled around him. The product of Mountain View, Missouri — who had only recently started his career as a family nurse practitioner at Mountain Grove Clinic — suddenly felt very far from home. “I was like, ‘All right, as long as you’ve got proper gear and stuff,’” he remembers saying into the

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phone. “I wasn’t going to go home with my tail between my legs.” Mattison landed at the Billie Jean King Center, one of a handful of makeshift hospitals set up to handle the tsunami of COVID-19 cases pummeling the city’s healthcare system. It was an atmosphere unlike anything he’d ever seen. “When I got up there, they had over 900 people dying a day in New York,” he said. “Hospitals were overrun; we got to do a walk-through, and they had a ward in the cafeteria. There were people in every closet, down the hallways. All of their OR’s were turned into ICU’s. They were busting at the gills. “They were really happy when these makeshift hospitals opened up. Ours was a 450-bed unit in this U.S. Open tennis center in Flushing, New York, just north of Brooklyn and Queens.” What followed were four of the most impactful weeks of his young medical career, working shoulder-to-shoulder with healthcare workers from around the country.

Clockwise from left: The New York city skyline. A make shift hospital was set up to handle the overflow of COVID-19 cases. Mattison was issued one gown and one mask for his entire tour. Photos courtesy of Mattison.

“They were really happy when these makeshift hospitals opened up. Ours was a 450-bed unit in this U.S. Open tennis center in Flushing, New York, just north of Brooklyn and Queens.”

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“It’s very easy to get stuck in your own little bubble. Something like this opens your eyes about not only what you can give to your community, but to a nation.”

“Half of our beds were sick COVID people and the other half were just like a long stay to get people off the streets, people who had no place else to go or who were high-risk patients,” he said. “We had our own little ICU although obviously, equipment and everything at that time was very limited. We could vent and stuff like that, but if we vented them, we tried to get them to a higher facility as fast as we could. Unfortunately, sometimes that was unrealistic.” From the jump, the 30-year-old Mattison was, in his words, “thrown into the blender,” pushed to the limits of his training and endurance, often to no avail. “They were taking any physician they could, anyone who had a pulse,” he said. “I remember one day, I went down to the Hot Zone, that’s what we called it, and they were like, ‘Hey, Adam. You’re doing ICU.’ I was like, hey man, I’m just a family walk-in provider. This is a little out of my wheelhouse. “They’re like, ‘Well, a neurologist and a dermatologist are doing

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From left: Mattison visiting Manhattan. One of the "rooms" in the makeshift hospital. Healthcare workers testing out boxes they made that helped contain the spray of droplets when intubating patients. Photos courtesy of Mattison.

the floor with your teams. You’re kind of all we got right now.’” One month after leaving home, a slightly dazed Mattison got back on a plane headed west. He’d barely had time to process what he’d been through, from the lack of PPE resulting in being issued one gown and one mask for his entire tour to working 21 consecutive 13-hour shifts. Months later he still recounts it with a touch of disbelief, but also new understanding. “The biggest takeaway was it opened my eyes,” he said. “It’s very easy to get stuck in your own little bubble. Something like this opens your eyes about not only what you can give to your community, but to a nation. I never thought I’d see that many people die at one time. It’s very humbling. “We’ve already had some patients here die from COVID, and in a small town, you’re a friend and a provider at the same time. I already did chitchat with my patients, but now I chitchat a little more and ask things. I just want to get to know them better.” SPRING 2021 | INSIGHT |

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LAST PAGE

Many Thanks! Cards and letters of thanks from elementary students in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, were sent to nurses and doctors at Ozarks Healthcare just before Thanksgiving 2020. Their words of encouragement spread many smiles among those fighting on the organization’s frontline.

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