Health

Opinion: Let’s Discourage Smoking and Save Hoosier Lives With Smart Public Policy

By: Jeff Bird, MD, President, Indiana University Health East Central Region— Muncie, Indiana—Too many Hoosier babies die before their first birthday. The toll is tragic. Indiana’s infant mortality rate of 7.5 infant deaths for every 1,000 live births equated to the deaths of 623 babies in 2016. fAnd African American infants face worse odds, dying at a rate twice that of white infants. Only five states have higher rates of infant mortality than Indiana’s. While the past two state administrations…

Read More

Take a Few Minutes Each Day To Exercise Your Way Into a New Year

By: Nicole L. Koontz— Muncie, Indiana—It’s that time of year again. Over the next few weeks, we will strive to wear the perfect outfit, select a perfect gift and host the perfect holiday party. While it’s a festive time, many of us get perfectly stressed out. And the thought of exercising goes right out the window. Instead, we promise to start or restart the first day of the new year. In that instant, we surrender to mounds of food and…


IUSM-Muncie Center Participates in Local Food Bank Distribution & Healthy Lifestyles Promotions

By: Joe LoPilato, Derron Bishop, & Hanna DelaGardelle— Muncie, Indiana—Students, staff, and faculty of Muncie Center for Medical Education/IU School of Medicine-Muncie participated in the Second Harvest Food Bank Distribution. Over 50 members of the Muncie campus helped pass out foodstuffs, including dairy, grain, and vegetable products that will impact an estimated 1000 families. In addition, students went car-to-car to conduct health histories and connect individuals to the new student-run Healthy Lifestyle Center (HLC) in Muncie. In total, they were able to sign up 42…


Open Door Health Services Opens New Muncie West Office

By: Suzanne Clem— Muncie, IN—Open Door Health Services is expanding its community reach with the opening of a new Muncie West office in the Westside neighborhood. Located at 215 S. Hutchinson Ave., Muncie West will house Open Door Pediatrics. Pediatrics patients currently receiving care at Open Door’s South Madison St. location will be seen at the new location beginning the week the Oct. 22. New patients are also welcome. Patients who wish to continue care at S. Madison St. will…


Healthy Lifestyle Center Open House Set for October 17th

By: Nicole L. Koontz M.S., RCEP, Associate Director of the Adult Physical Fitness Program, Ball State University— Muncie, IN—The Healthy Lifestyle Center is an interprofessional and collaborative community effort between the departments of the College of Health at Ball State University, IU Medical students as well as Meridian Health Services. Individuals can come in for FREE services in nutrition, exercise guidance, social work, counseling psychology, nursing and speech and audiology. How many times have you gone to the doctor or nurse practitioner…


IU Health Team Members Give Time For Community Service

By: Dawn Brand Fluhler— Muncie, IN– This year the IU Health Eastern Central Region participated in the 10th annual IU Health Days of Service. On September 7, 14 and 21, 450 IU Health team members from IU Health Ball, IU Health Blackford and IU Health Jay spent more than 1,100 collective hours working on projects. John Disher, community outreach manager for IU Health East Central Region and Ball Memorial Hospital Foundation served as an on-site facilitator for the activities. “The IU…


IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Achieves Magnet® Recognition for Nursing Excellence

By: Courtney Thomas— Muncie, Indiana – IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital has achieved Magnet® recognition for its dedication to nursing excellence and high-quality clinical outcomes for patients. This designation comes from the world’s largest and most prestigious nurse credentialing organization, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The ANCC’s Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing professionalism, teamwork and superiority in patient care. With this designation, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital joins the 477 Magnet-recognized hospitals nationwide. Only…


Meridian’s Annual Fam Fest: Two Events This Saturday

By: Lorri Markum— Muncie, IN—Meridian Health Services will host area’s largest Health & Fun Fair and Ducky Derby this Saturday, August 25, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Suzanne Gresham Center. The carnival themed Fam Fest brings fun and excitement to the family festival’s 11thannual celebration with clowns, face painting, carnival food and more! Fam Fest, presented in partnership with PrimeTrust Federal Credit Union, consists of two events to raise awareness of health, wellness, community resources and the prevention…


IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Earns Blue Distinction® Center Designation for Spine Surgery

By: Courtney Thomas— Muncie, IN –Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana has selected IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery, part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities shown to deliver safe and effective specialty care, based on objective measures that were developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies with input from the medical community. Hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers for Spine Surgery…


Bethel Pointe Health and Rehabilitation: Living a Well Lifestyle

By: Lindsay Galloway— Muncie, IN—Living Well is the lifestyle you will find at Bethel Pointe Health and Rehabilitation. Our well-trained, compassionate staff supervises every aspect of our resident’s wellness. With round-the-clock nursing care, Bethel Pointe focuses on the entire spectrum of one’s well-being; from their physical and emotional health to their needs for friendship and intellectual stimulation. We warmly greet and invite you to visit our community where people truly care about people.  Families and loved ones just like you…