Tag Archives: freeman

Freeman teaches safe babysitting practices

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JOPLIN, Mo. – Baby sitting is a common job for many young people, but they often don’t get very much training.

Freeman Health System is trying to provide that training through its Safe Sitter Program. Through the program, people can learn CPR and other strategies to keep kids under their care safe and engaged.

Freeman has been providing the safe sitting classes more than 25 years. Advance registration is required for the safe sitter class with a fee of $40 for a one-day session.

COPYRIGHT 2021 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.

Spike in cases prompts Freeman to reopen COVID Unit

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JOPLIN, Mo. – Freeman Health System in Joplin announces it will reopen its medical COVID-19 unit due to a recent spike in cases.

The medical COVID unit was originally opened in July of 2020 and was closed in March of this year when cases had diminished in the area.

Physicians are also seeing more patients with gastrointestinal symptoms that include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The hospital will hold a press conference Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. to discuss increasing patient numbers, how patients are supported in fighting the virus and the changing demographics of those needing hospitalization.

Missouri has recently seen a surge in cases fueled by the Delta variant. One of the hotspots include the Ozarks. According to the Missouri Department of Health hospitalizations in Southwest Missouri rose 196% in the last month.

COVID hospitalizations are up in southwest Missouri and Freeman Hospital is re-opening it’s COVID unit after it closed back in March.

COVID cases continue to climb in the area with Missouri seeing a rapid rise in cases compared to other states. That also means, the number of COVID patients is increasing in the area leading to the reopening of recently closed COVID units at local hospitals, including Freeman. Freeman’s COVID Director, Dr. Rob McNab says there are some key reasons he thinks led to the state we’re in. “What we were doing kept it under control, not gone, not vanquished, but very under control, and when we removed all those safety protections, now we’re back up to 40 plus patients in-house, and we’re still not vaccinated enough to be able to take advantage of herd immunity.”

Dr. McNab says it’s still important to get vaccinated. “What we know right now about these new variants is that they’re still very susceptible to the vaccinations that we have, though it does look like you need to have both vaccines in that series completed to really get the benefit from it.”

Despite calls for people to get vaccinated, vaccination numbers are still low in the area, including Jasper County. Jasper County Health Department Administrator Tony Moehr says “Almost 35% have received one dose of vaccine, but it’s closer to 30% of the total eligible population that have been fully vaccinated so far.”

Moehr says the rise in cases locally is having an interesting side effect. “We have seen our numbers increase just over the past week or so as far as people that are requesting vaccine and so we’re hoping that some people that have kind of been on the fence or looking at this saying ‘wow, the cases are really starting to increase, maybe it’s time to start looking at getting this done’ and we hope more and more people will do that.”

Dr. McNab says he’s hopeful we can get through this climb in cases faster by getting more people vaccinated.

COPYRIGHT 2021 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.

Freeman Medical Focus – Sign of a stroke

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JOPLIN, Mo. (KODE) – May is National Stroke Awareness Month and a chance to learn more about the causes of stroke as well as what you should do if you see the signs.

“You know when someone is having a stroke, the longer the blood flow stops to the brain cells will lose brain cells, and is estimated by science about 2 million brain cells die every minute of not getting stroke treatment,” says Dr. Gulshan Uppal, Freeman Health System Neurologist.

That makes time essential in stopping that damage.

First, watch for symptoms.

A good reminder is the acronym “BE FAST.”

“B stands for balance, sudden loss of balance. E for eyes – if they lose vision in one eye, or both eyes suddenly, that would be signed to watch for stroke,” says Dr. Uppal.

Then there’s FAST: F for a face that’s drooping, A for arm weakness or numbness, S for speech issues.

“If they cannot talk, they’re not making sense when they when they’re talking or they’re just confused when they’re talking, that would be, and then T stands for time,” says Dr. Uppal.

Speeding treatment, a drug called TPA.

“Tissue plasminogen activator and the role of this medication is it goes into the blood reaches the point where the stroke is in the blood clot is and try to dissolve this clot,” says Dr. Uppal.

Missouri expands vaccine eligibility to all adults today

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JOPLIN, Mo. – Starting Friday all adults in Missouri are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Anyone 16 and above who did not already qualify for the vaccine can get their shot as the State of Missouri moves into Phase 3. Phase 3 comes just 12 days after the state moved into Phase 2.

Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas expanded eligibility to 16 and up last week.

In Joplin, Freeman Health System accepts applications for its first Phase 3 vaccine clinic. One takes place today from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You need to pre-register by phone at (417) 502-SHOT or online at freemanhealth.com/service/covid-19 to setup an appointment.

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Freeman Health System opens MRI service in Pittsburg

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Pittsburg, Kan. – Freeman Health System’s MRI service is now operating in Pittsburg to fill a void from rural hospitals closing.

It’s a mobile MRI open two days a week on North Pine Street. Freeman workers say there’s already been a big demand.

“We have already performed over 100 MRI procedures since our soft opening in January, but we are ready to go full steam now,” said Freeman Health System CEO Paula Baker.

Freeman says they’ve already received 14 referrals from area physicians for this mobile MRI service.

Medday Thursday: Urgent Behavior Solutions

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JOPLIN, Mo. – Freeman Urgent Behavior Solutions Project Director Stephen McCullough talks with Michael Hayslip about the hospital’s urgent behavior solutions program. It provides emergency services for people facing a behavioral health care emergency. For more information you can call (417) 347-7800 or visit the Ozark Center webpage.

(Previous story: Area police tour Freemans Urgent Behavioral Solutions)

Freeman Hospital sees decline in COVID inpatients

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JOPLIN, Mo. – Some good news came out of Tuesday’s COVID-19 briefing at Freeman Hospital.

Freeman officials say the number of COVID-19 inpatients has declined. A total of thirteen COVID patients were getting treatment in Freeman West and Freeman Neosho Tuesday. That’s compared to 66 patients at the peak.

Freeman currently has one COVID patient in ICU, so the hospital is converting unit space to handle other patients. But they say the space could be equipped for COVID patients again if necessary.

Officials say the declining numbers are due in part to resident’s complying with COVID-19 safety precautions.

“The community has a whole have stepped up to limit the spread of that infection,” said Freeman Director of COVID-19 Dr. Rob McNab. “What we are doing is working. It is not like the virus has left town and forgotten about us. It is still here you know. The things that we have designed over the past year has worked very very well.”

Dr. McNabb says even people who get the vaccine could potentially spread the virus to others. So they should continue to wear masks and social distance.

Freeman selling daffodils in support of local cancer patients

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JOPLIN, Mo. – Freeman Health System is voicing support for caner patients in need in the form of Daffodil Days.

Hospital officials say the daffodil is a symbol of hope as a spring flower and marks new beginning in a patients journey. Freeman is selling the flower with proceeds benefitting cancer patients at the Freeman Cornell-Beshore Cancer Institute.

“The fund helps address the community’s critical needs,” said Jason Gorham, Freeman Vice President of Administrative Services. “Donations made to the Freeman Cornell-Beshore Cancer Institute Fund help ensure that patients receive the very best care through the newest medical techniques and cutting-edge technologies, as well as providing cancer education materials to patients and families.”

Orders for daffodils must be placed online by Thursday, March 4. They are available in a bundle of ten for $15 or three flowers for $5.

Visit freemanhealth.com/daffodil to order. For more information, please call 417.347.6658. Pre-ordered daffodils will be available for pick-up at Freeman Hospital West lobby on Tuesday, March 23, from 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

Freeman cancels Thursday vaccination clinic

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JOPLIN, Mo. – Freeman Health System announced it is cancelling a vaccination clinic planned for Thursday, February 18. Officials say the cancellation is due to the extreme weather conditions.

Freeman will reschedule the clinic for another time. People with scheduled appointments will be contacted by a representative to set up a new appointment.

For more information on vaccination plans you can visit the Freeman Health System website.

Couple gets same life-saving heart procedure in less than a year

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JOPLIN, Mo. –  With valentine’s day approaching this weekend, couples everywhere will be opening their hearts to one another. But one area couple is sharing the story of both of them getting a life saving heart procedure over the past eight months.

Charles and Lorena Sweeney got married more than 50 years ago. In June, Lorena needed a transcatheter aortic valve replacement; then in October so did Charles.

Freeman Health System performed both surgeries and says the procedure is done while the heart remains pumping, eliminating the need for a heart lung machine.

Lorena says she and Charles are back to their old selves.

“I feel great I can do I can do. I still work part usually once a week. I play the piano and organ at the church. I teach a Sunday school lesson, and I’m very active,” said Lorena.

“The success stories where people are unable to walk and then suddenly they are back to their 2 mile walk or they are out mowing their grass that is very gratifying,” says Freeman doctor John Cox.

February is also American Heart Month, a time when all people can focus on their cardiovascular health.