Health

By Courtney Schmoll— MUNCIE, IN— Indiana University Health has named Art Vasquez president of its newly aligned North Region, which includes IU Health Ball, along with hospitals and outpatient facilities across Delaware, Blackford, Jay, Allen, Tippecanoe, White, Clinton and Tipton counties. Vasquez will oversee regional strategy while local leaders in Muncie — including Dr. Ryan Johnston (chief medical officer), Melissa Hicks, DNP, RN-BC, NE-BC (chief nursing officer), and Kreigh Cook (chief operating officer) — continue guiding day-to-day care and community engagement. “As IU Health continues to strengthen care across its northern communities, this alignment supports greater collaboration and consistency across…

By Amy Sams, BSN RN— MUNCIE, IN—Do you know the signs of lung cancer?  There are none. Lung cancer doesn’t wait. Why should you? Call to schedule your lung screening. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Indiana, but it doesn’t have to be. Most people do not experience symptoms until the disease is advanced, when treatment options are limited. That is why early detection through low-dose CT screening is critical, it can find lung cancer when it is most treatable. Indiana University Health is bringing life-saving lung cancer screenings directly to your community with our Mobile…

By Nicole L. Koontz— MUNCIE, IN—For many Americans, the holidays are several weeks packed with the hustle and bustle and stress over wearing the perfect outfit, picking out the perfect gift and hosting the perfect party. During all of this, they find themselves stressed out and lacking energy. Many forget about taking care of themselves and wish for a recovery day from the holidays. The simplest way to reduce those stress levels and improve your health is to just get moving. In the world of exercise, it’s called physical activity. The American College of Sports Medicine defines this as any…

By Tim Harms, AHA— INDIANAPOLIS — The winter holidays can turn deadly as research shows that more people die from heart attacks during the last week of December than at any other time of the year. While being aware of the signs of a heart attack and taking steps to reduce your risk are important all year long, the American Heart Association, devoted to changing the future to a world of healthier lives for all, says that’s especially critical during the next few weeks. And, in rural communities, where EMS responses can be delayed and minutes matter, it’s important to…

By Dena Bond and Natalie Clair, IPS— INDIANAPOLIS, IN—The holidays are a time to gather and celebrate with family and friends, but most of these celebrations tend to focus on food.  It’s easy to slide off track and not prioritize healthy habits with so many activities and fun all around. As registered dietitians for Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) — the state’s largest school district —  we provide our students with school meals to support their health and education, but this holiday season, we’re serving up tips for mindful actions to use at home and on the go while enjoying the…

By Courtney Schmoll— MUNCIE, IN— Indiana University Health is now the only health system in Indiana offering an advanced robotic-assisted option for shoulder replacement procedures. This technology gives surgeons the ability to plan each surgery in greater detail and perform it with enhanced control, resulting in care shaped around the patient’s specific anatomy. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jacob Triplet is currently the only surgeon in the state performing this type of robotic-assisted shoulder procedure, expanding access to innovative surgical options for patients in Muncie and surrounding communities. The technology supports surgeons by streamlining the most complex steps of the operation, guiding…

By IU Health, Indianapolis— INDIANAPOLIS— U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named five Indiana University Health hospitals including IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital as 2026 High Performing hospitals for Maternity Care. They are: IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital IU Health Bloomington Hospital IU Health Paoli Hospital IU Health Medical Center (Maternity Tower at Riley Hospital for Children) IU Health West Hospital The award is the highest a hospital can earn as part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care annual study, now in its fifth edition. U.S. News began evaluating…

By Jordan Moss, Tobacco Free Coalition of Delaware County— MUNCIE, IN—Each November, the Great American Smokeout, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, encourages millions of people across the country to take the first step toward a tobacco-free life. This year’s observance on November 20,  is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late—or too early—to quit smoking, vaping, or using smokeless tobacco. Quitting is not easy, but it’s one of the best decisions a person can make for their health. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, linked to heart disease, stroke, lung disease,…

By Grace Fair, Exercise Physiologist, Cardiopulmonary Rehab, Cancer Rehab, IU Health— MUNCIE, IN—During Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we have an opportunity to shed light on a disease that continues to take more lives each year than breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers combined. Lung cancer does not discriminate—anyone with lungs can get lung cancer—and awareness, education, and early detection are the keys to saving lives. Every two minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with lung cancer. While smoking remains the leading risk factor, it’s important to remember that nearly one in five people diagnosed have never smoked. Environmental exposures,…