Health

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,…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

By John Disher— Annual “100,000 Award” recognizes dedication to improving health and well-being MUNCIE, Ind.— The Healthy Community Alliance of East Central Indiana (HCA) presented its “100,000 Award in Memory of Dr. George Branam” to Blackford County volunteer Fred Hoffman at its annual recognition meeting on June 13, 2022. The annual award is given to an individual or organization that supports the work of the HCA through outstanding leadership, innovative collaborations and unwavering dedication to improving the health and well-being…

By Suzanne Clem— MUNCIE, Ind.— Dr. John Woodall, an Open Door Health Services family medicine physician, has been named a 2022 Healthcare Hero by Indianapolis Business Journal. The annual awards program honors individuals and organizations that have made significant impact on the quality of healthcare in Central Indiana, nominated from a 9-county footprint. Three honorees are selected for recognition in each of 5 categories. Woodall’s honor comes in the “Physician” category and recognizes his impact on positive clinical outcomes and community health…

By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief, MuncieJournal.com— Muncie, IN— A message in my INBOX from the American Heart Association said May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Hashtag #StrokeMonth How appropriate and timely. Today is the 2nd anniversary of my stroke. For what its worth, here’s my story and things you can do to watch for stroke signs in your loved ones. I don’t mind sharing my story because there are lessons to be learned that may help others. In fact, soon after…