Health

MUNCIE, IN—The national Ms. Health and Fitness competition draws thousands of athletes every year to compete for national recognition and to benefit Homes for Wounded Warriors. This year, a Muncie resident is in the running for the title. Michele Owen had never run a race and could barely swim before deciding to train for Muncie’s 2021 Ironman 70.3. The grueling triathlon consists of a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile run, and then a 13.1 mile run within 8 1/2 hours. Owen trained 12 times a week for 11 months to be able to finish the race, and then went…

By Vicki Delzeith— MUNCIE, IN – IU Health Ball has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2023 which recognizes sustained, high level performance in quality of care. IU Health Ball is one of only 262 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor. The award recognizes IU Health Ball’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients and signifies that IU Health Ball has reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to standard levels of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American…

Annual “100,000 Award” recognizes dedication to improving health and well-being By John Disher— MUNCIE, IN— The Healthy Community Alliance of East Central Indiana (HCA) presented its “100,000 Award in Memory of Dr. George Branam” to the Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition (JCDPC) at its annual recognition meeting on June 12, 2023. 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 of local communities. The HCA “100,000 Award” recognizes the legacy of the late George Branam, MD, a steadfast…

By Liz Yates— MUNCIE, IN—The Orthopedics team at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital has worked diligently to receive the “Joint Replacement Excellence AwardTM” for 2023 from Healthgrades. This designation makes IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital one of only six hospitals in Indiana to win this award and also puts the hospital among the top 10% in the United States for joint replacement.  Healthgrades takes a lot into consideration when it comes to awarding hospitals with this designation, including being evaluated and categorized, by patients, into one of three performance categories: Better Than Expected, As Expected, or Worse Than Expected, for…

By Hannah Dunckel—  MUNCIE, IN – Meridian Dental – Family Dentistry is now open and accepting patients at a new location in Muncie. The new office is conveniently located at 110 N. Tillotson Ave., Muncie and is open Monday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Oral health is a vital part of total body well-being. Untreated dental diseases can contribute to serious health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. This new dental location will allow patients to not only receive dental care, but have access to a broad range of physical and…

By Emily Helms – MUNCIE, IN—On April 29, local health and beauty professionals will partner with community organizations to host a health and beauty show at Madjax Maker Force. The event is part of the statewide Indiana Black Barbershop Health Initiative (IBBHI), the goal of which is to educate and empower Black men to “to better understand the potential risk factors in their health through screening and education,” according to the IBBHI’s website. Participating barbers and health and beauty professionals will join with Open Door Health Services, Muncie Juneteenth Celebration, Concrete Rose, and IBBHI to promote healthy lifestyles within the…

By Courtney Schmoll— MUNCIE, IN—IU Health Ball physicians, leaders, and clinicians gathered today to recognize their outpatient Wound Healing Center, a recipient of the Center of Distinction award by Healogics®, the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services. The Center achieved outstanding clinical outcomes for twelve consecutive months, including a patient satisfaction rate higher than 92 percent. “We are so proud of our team at the Wound Healing Center,” said Terry Pence, vice president – operations, IU Health Ball. “We are excited to be a Center of Distinction and a part of leading healthcare for the East Central Region.”…

By Courtney Schmoll— MUNCIE, IN—IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie welcomed the first patients to its new mother/baby unit on January 17, 2023. The recently unveiled addition is the final project in the hospital’s twelve-year, $112 million North Tower renovation. The new unit houses both labor/delivery and mother/baby specialties. Prior to the renovation, both teams worked on the same floor, but in separate spaces. Now, the two nurses’ stations are together, and the floor is one, continuous unit with expanded room sizes and more modern amenities for moms, babies, and families. The unit joins its fellow women’s and children’s…

American Heart Association offers tips to inspire activity and enhance well-being By Tim Harms, American Heart Association— INDIANAPOLIS — One in four U.S. adults are sitting for longer than eight hours each day, and this lack of activity is bad for mental and physical health. The American Heart Association, the leading voluntary health organization focused on heart and brain health for all, is urging adults to move more and sit less throughout the day. April, designated as Move More Month, is a great month to start. “Staying active can help you feel, think, live and sleep better,” said Dr. William Gill,…