Health

By K. Aleisha Fetters— MUNCIE, Ind.—Grief is a hard journey. But it’s one that Muncie church members are increasingly walking together. They are doing so through the aptly named GriefShare, a grief recovery support program that is helping people in the US, Canada, and more than 10 other countries find meaning and rebuild their lives following the loss of friends, family members, and loved ones. “GriefShare provided me a lifeline during my time of loss,” says Cheyrl McCoy, a former participant….

By Tim Harms, American Heart Association— INDIANAPOLIS—Thousands of Hoosiers with high blood pressure may now have easier access to monitoring devices that will allow them to check their own blood pressure, which could help them better control their blood pressure and lower their risk of heart disease, thanks to a change in state policy that was recommended by the American Heart Association. On Dec. 2, the Indiana Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning (OMPP) approved a policy request to expand coverage…

By Courtney Schmoll— MUNCIE, Ind.— The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a quality program administered by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has granted accredited status to the IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Cancer Center in Muncie, Indiana. To achieve voluntary NAPBC accreditation, a breast center demonstrates compliance with the NAPBC standards that address a center’s leadership, clinical services, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement for patients.  Breast centers seeking NAPBC accreditation undergo a site visit…

By Meridian—  MUNCIE, Ind. – Meridian Health Services is excited to bring back Flu-Lapalooza, a One-Day FREE Flu Shot Clinic, on October 6, 2021, from 11a-7p at Meridian locations throughout Indiana. Flu-Lapalooza will take place at Meridian locations in Anderson, Bluffton, Connersville, Dunkirk, Indianapolis, Muncie, New Castle, Portland, Richmond, and Rushville. Participants can enter to win a $50 grocery gift card to be given away at each location! The flu shot is a vaccine is effective in reducing the number…

By Erin Pinkerton— MUNCIE, Ind. — It’s no secret that having a baby permanently changes a woman’s body. The secret might be that, even after having a baby, a woman’s body should still function well. Women are often told that incontinence, pelvic pain and other pelvic health issues are the price they pay for having carried or delivered a baby. Women believe these issues are normal, so they wait to seek treatment or don’t seek treatment at all. “If you…

 By Steve Cooke— Roberto Darroca, MD, is the immediate past president of the ISMA. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.– The Indiana State Medical Association (ISMA) elected its officers and American Medical Association (AMA) delegation members at its 172nd Annual Convention, held Sept. 10-12, 2021. The event was held virtually for the second year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  Elizabeth Struble, MD, North Manchester, was sworn in as ISMA president for 2021-2022. Pardeep Kumar, MD, Terre Haute, was sworn in as ISMA president-elect.  Other…

By Kadee Klafka, RN, Cardiac Intensive Care, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital— From a nurse’s eyes. I’ve been surrounded by a lot of different views of the global pandemic. I am entirely full of anger; I’ll do my best to keep all the emotions I’m personally dealing with out of these experiences and thoughts I’m about to share. In the beginning of the pandemic, we were all scared. We didn’t know what this virus was. We didn’t know how it would…

By Suzanne Clem— MUNCIE, Ind. – Open Door Health Services has launched a new no-cost COVID-19 testing program in Muncie. Testing takes place drive-through style on the site of Open Door Urgent Care, located at 1651 E. 29th St. Monday, Sept. 13 marked the first day for the program, which is contracted through the Indiana Department of Health. As a community testing site, anyone in the community is welcome to seek testing through the program. Both rapid and PCR tests are…

By Courtney Schmoll— MUNCIE, Ind.—As COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations continue to surge, IU Health will temporarily suspend 100% of all inpatient elective surgeries and procedures throughout the system, beginning Monday, Sept.6. The surge of COVID-19 patient volumes has continued to accelerate at a rapid pace, and this temporary change is needed to further relieve pressure on our care teams and to free up space for critically ill patients. Elective surgery patients (non-emergent, non-urgent) are being notified now. This suspension will…