Health

By Hannah Dunckel— MUNCIE, IN – Meridian Health Services is providing free COVID-19 prevention resources to help the community stay healthy with the recent increase in COVID-19 cases at a time when area schools are preparing for teachers and students to return to the classroom. Meridian is providing the following FREE resources at all primary care and urgent care locations: Free rapid COVID-19 testing Free at-home COVID-19 test kits – one box with two tests per family unit, while supplies last Free N95 masks, while supplies last Meridian is also providing free COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. An appointment is required…

By Lindsey Cox— Re-routing excess produce to those who could use it most MUNCIE, IN—Have you figured out what to do with the abundance of zucchini and tomatoes your garden is producing? Look no further. You can donate your excess garden produce to 16 sites in Delaware, Blackford, and Jay Counties. Those community organizations will make sure the produce gets to our neighbors who can use it most. The Food Council of East Central Indiana, through the Healthy Community Alliance (HCA) coalition associated with our IU Health regional hospital system, has launched the Grow-a-Row campaign. Grow-a-Row is a national program…

By IU Health— IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital recognized as ‘high performing’ for kidney failure, COPD, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure and stroke. INDIANAPOLIS — U.S. News & World Report has released its 2022-2023 ‘Best Hospitals’ rankings that include Indiana University Health Medical Center among the nation’s top adult hospitals for the 25th consecutive year. IU Health Medical Center remains the No. 1-ranked hospital in Indiana and Indianapolis and the only nationally ranked adult hospital in the state. U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 medical centers nationwide in 35 specialties, procedures and conditions to create its rankings. For 2022-2023, IU…

By Suzanne Clem— Muncie, IN – Community members have the opportunity to receive no-cost COVID-19 test kits, as well as no-cost Covid vaccination this week at Open Door Health Services. Free at-home test kits will be distributed Wednesday, July 27 and Thursday, July 28 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Open Door’s administrative site, located at 220 S. Walnut St. in Muncie. The public is invited to pick up a supply for homes, workplaces, or civic organizations. Free Covid vaccinations, including boosters, are available Thursday, July 28 from 2-5 p.m. at Open Door’s downtown Muncie health center, located at 333 S. Madison…

By Marcia Freeman— MUNCIE, IN—Chronic joint pain has plagued me for many years starting in my late thirty’s. I struggled to find relief outside of pharmaceuticals, until I found the practice of yoga. To say that it has been life changing is an understatement. It has become my main health practice for physical and emotional wellness. I was diagnosed with a very painful, chronic and debilitating joint disease in 2009. I was immediately advised by my doctors to stop running, an exercise I loved and had formed a large community around. I was advised that immunosuppressant’s, anti-inflammatory and pain medications…

By IU Health— MUNCIE, IN – IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability. Stroke is the number five cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of…

By Suzanne Clem, VP of Community Engagement— MUNCIE, Ind. —Open Door Health Services’ no-cost COVID-19 testing site will offer its final day of testing Thursday, June 30. Located at 1651 E. 29th St. in Muncie, directly behind Open Door Urgent Care, this site has operated since 2021 as a state-contracted community testing site. That contract concludes at the end of the month. Community members seeking testing can continue to view no-cost community testing at https://scheduling.coronavirus.in.gov/Home/LocationSelection. Although the majority of Open Door’s testing will shift toward established patients whose provider recommends testing within an office visit, community members who utilize Open Door…

By MHS— MUNCIE, Ind. – Meridian Health Services’ Rialzo, East Central Indiana’s largest charity gala, returned with a new look, venue and purpose on Saturday, May 14 at the Scheumann Family Indoor Practice Facility on Ball State’s Campus. Over 700 of Meridian’s greatest supporters attended Rialzo XI and enjoyed an evening of entertainment, guest speakers including Governor Eric Holcomb, President Geoff Mearns, dancing and raising funds for Meridian’s broad spectrum of Addictions and Recovery programs – truly a purpose with a party! The Kentucky Derby-themed charity gala featured “The Greatest 2 Minutes in Fundraising” – the Meridian Derby – a…