Once again, Mercy Clinic physicians and co-workers are pulling out their personal checkbooks to give back to the community. Dubbed “Force for Good,” the Mercy Clinic grant program has given $1.48 million to charitable organizations in the Ozarks since its beginning in 2003. The grants are given twice each year.

After reviewing this summer’s applications, the committee saw a need to help food banks and assistance programs for the homeless, and called this grant round “Less Homeless.” The program’s check recipients include five outreach centers that provide refuge, clothing and food to homeless or needy youth and families. Mercy physicians and co-workers reached their contribution goal of $100,000 and will donate the money to organizations in Springfield, Branson and Joplin.

The individual awards are as follows:

• The Rare Breed, sponsored by The Kitchen, Inc. $60,000
• Isabel’s House, Crisis Nursery of the Ozarks $12,000
• The Springfield Council of PTAs Clothing Bank $13,000
• Jesus Was Homeless $10,000
• Bright Futures $5,000

The Rare Breed provides a safe place for homeless, runaway and street youth in Springfield and surrounding areas, and recently lost a large federal grant. Isabel’s House is a project of the Junior League of Springfield. It provides refuge for children from birth to age 12 when their family is in crisis. The Springfield Council of PTAs Clothing Bank distributes clothing to low-income students from pre-kindergarten through high school.  Last year, it gave more than 30,000 items to children in the community. The Branson organization, Jesus was Homeless, provides food to 800 sheltered homeless individuals in western Taney County every week. Bright Futures is a Joplin program that provides basic needs assistance to children in crisis.

Crews just broke ground for Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Springfield in early April, and have now placed the final steel beam in the structure during a “topping out” ceremony. Rehabilitation co-workers and physicians joined hospital leadership to sign the final beam and watch workers lift it into place. The beam carried an American flag and an evergreen tree, which symbolize growth and recognize the diligence of the workers and their care and concern during construction.

The new rehabilitation hospital will have 60 beds and provide inpatient rehabilitation for patients who are recovering from strokes, brain or spinal cord injuries, amputations, complex orthopedic injuries and other conditions. Currently, rehabilitation services are offered at Mercy Hospital Springfield. As a Level I trauma center for Arkansas and Missouri, as well as the region’s only burn unit, the need for rehabilitation has outgrown the 35 beds available in the current space.

Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Springfield is a partnership between Mercy and Centerre Healthcare Corporation, a national leader in the development and operation of rehabilitation hospitals. The $28 million, 63,000 square foot facility is set to open in April of 2014.

Every 25 seconds, or 1.35 million times a year, a young athlete suffers a sports injury severe enough to go to the emergency room, according to a new research report released today by Safe Kids Worldwide. Affiliate program Safe Kids Springfield is led by the trauma services department at Mercy Hospital Springfield.

The report, “Game Changers,” made possible with support from Johnson & Johnson, takes an in-depth look at data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) to explore what type of injuries are sidelining young athletes.

According to the report that studied the 14 most popular sports, concussions account for 163,000 of those ER visits, or 12 percent. That's a concussion-related ER visit every three minutes. Surprisingly, it is not just high school athletes suffering concussions; athletes ages 12 to 15 make up almost half (47%) of the sports-related concussions seen in the ER, a statistic made even more disturbing by the knowledge that younger children with concussions take a longer time to recover than older children.

The report also revealed that knee injuries account for one in ten sports-related injuries. Knee injuries, specifically tears to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), are disproportionately affecting young female athletes, who are up to eight times more likely to have an ACL injury than male athletes.

"We uncovered some disturbing data about how often kids in our community are being injured playing sports," said Daphne Greenlee, Safe Kids Springfield and trauma outreach coordinator for Mercy Hospital Springfield.   “But we also found inspiring stories from people and programs that are making a marked difference.”

The study details both the types of injuries and the rates of injuries for the most popular sports. Not surprising, in 2011, the sport with the most injuries is football, which also has the highest concussion rate. Wrestling and cheerleading have the second and third highest concussion rate. The sport with the highest percent of concussion injuries is ice hockey.

The report also includes profiles of some communities, sports leagues, and individual athletes who are taking a proactive stance in order to turn these statistics around.

Game-Changing Strategies
Safe Kids Springfield and our partners are calling on community members, coaches, parents, sports leagues and athletes to implement four overarching strategies that are making a difference:

• Get educated, then pass it forward. A common theme among parents and young athletes who are struggling with recovering from an injury is that they wish they knew sooner what they know now.  Attend a sports clinic, talk to your sports medicine provider, or go to www.safekids.org to find out how to keep kids safe and then tell your friends.
• Teach athletes injury prevention skills. Instill smart hydration habits, warm-up exercises and stretches to prevent common injuries. Understand stress placed on muscles particular to the sport (pitching arm, knees, etc.) and target exercises to those areas. Encourage athletes to get plenty of rest.
• Encourage athletes to speak up about injuries. Too often, athletes feel like they are letting down their teammates, coaches or parents if they ask to sit out due to an injury. The truth is, it takes more courage to speak up about an injury that can have serious and long-term effects.
• Support coaches in injury prevention decisions. A Safe Kids Worldwide 2012 survey found half of coaches admit to being pressured by a parent or athlete to keep an injured athlete in the game. Coaches need to be educated and supported in making decisions that protect the immediate and long-term health of young athletes.

“Education and prevention are key to most sports injuries, including concussions,” said Dr. Brian Mahaffey, Mercy Clinic Sports Medicine specialist, head team physician for Missouri State University and team physician for the St. Louis Cardinals. “Our goal is a team approach with athletes, parents, coaches, athletic trainers, and other medical providers, which has been shown to be effective in keeping children safe and healthy during sports.”

If you think your children won’t listen to your warnings about drugs and alcohol, maybe they will listen to those who see the effects first-hand.

Mercy is hosting a free forum for teens and parents called, “Straight Talk About Drugs.” It’s set for Tuesday, Aug. 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hammons Heart Institute Auditorium in Springfield, Mo. Participants will hear from Dr. Kendra Morrison, a Mercy emergency department physician, and from Officer David Snider with the Springfield Police Department. They have both seen how drugs can wreck – and even end - young lives.

“It’s always difficult to have to put a 15 or 16-year-old on life support because of an overdose and watch the family suffer because of their bad choices,” said Dr. Morrison. “It’s worse when we have to tell them we were unable to do anything and they will have to make funeral arrangements instead of planning for college.”

Officer Snider encourages parents to be active in their kids’ lives and maintain an open line of communication. “Take the time to be involved with your kids and educate them on the bad things they can put into their bodies,” he said.

For more information on the forum, just call (417) 888-8888. Registration is not required, and the forum is free. Refreshments will also be provided.

By Mercy's Tina Rockhold

Surprise! Oranges have more potassium on average than bananas.

“Reach for the orange,” suggests Mercy Clinic’s Dr. Brendon McCollom, a family medicine physician who specializes in sports medicine.

After an intense workout, oranges help replenish potassium and electrolytes. Normal levels of potassium in the body keep muscle cramps at bay, plus help the heart beat regularly, and reduce the risk of kidney stones and bone loss. 

Low potassium levels (hypokalemia) can wreak more havoc than a pain in your backside.  Fatigue, confusion and problems with muscle coordination can also be attributed to low levels of potassium.

While oranges tend to have more potassium, both are good sources of potassium.

Labor Day may mark the end of summer, but there’s still time for tick bites unless families take precautions. 

The end of summer and beginning of fall are a great time for outdoor activities, but that means keeping company with outdoor pests, including those creepy, crawly external parasites known as ticks. Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, tularemia and Lyme Disease are common tick-borne illnesses in the Midwest. They can affect kids and adults, although some may have a more potent effect on kids.

Tick bites can lead to rashes, fevers, chills, aches and pains with a severity and duration ranging from mild to serious. Recently, two cases of a new tick-borne illness, the Heartland Virus, made headlines. The virus is characterized by low white blood cell counts, fever, chills and diarrhea.

“The risk of acquiring a tick-borne illness really depends on what type of tick bit you and how long it was attached,” said Mercy Clinic pediatrician Marissa Stock, MD. “If a rash develops at the site where the tick was, or you get a fever in the days or weeks after a tick bite, you should see a doctor.”

Dr. Stock recommends that families take precautions to avoid tick bites. “You can reduce your chances of getting a tick-borne illness by using repellents, checking yourself and your little ones for ticks and showering after being outdoors,” she said. 

These recommendations are from the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• Use a repellent with DEET and follow package instructions. Repellents containing 20 percent or more DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) can protect for several hours. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using a product with less than 30 percent DEET on children. Insect repellents are not recommended for children younger than 2 months of age.
• Do not use products that combine DEET with sunscreen. Using the products together can overexpose a child to DEET and the DEET may make the sun protection factor (SPF) less effective.
• Use products containing permethrin to kill ticks on clothing and outdoor equipment. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remains protective through several washings. Permethrin-containing products should not be applied to the skin.
• After being outside, check clothing for ticks, and run clothing through the dryer on high heat for about an hour to kill any ticks that might have been missed.
• Take a shower. Showering within two hours after being outside has been shown to reduce risks for Lyme disease and helps wash off unattached ticks.
• Check for ticks after being outdoors.

“If you find a tick, be careful about how you remove it,” Dr. Stock said. “The best way to remove a tick is to use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible, pull it straight out and then clean the bite area with soap and water.”

People can take additional precautions by keeping yards trimmed, deterring wildlife and using bug sprays as directed. Family pets should be on flea and tick preventatives to keep them from tracking pests into the home.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in every four deaths in the United States can be blamed on heart disease. Prevention and the development of new treatments are key to our fight against failing hearts.

It’s why Mercy Hospital Springfield is evaluating an innovative device to fight coronary artery disease, which is characterized by blockages of fat and cholesterol in the vessels that supply blood to the heart. Doctors have been treating those blockages in the heart for decades with things like balloon angioplasty and metallic and drug eluting stents, which push the blockages out of the way and restore blood flow.

The latest innovation is a temporary device that eventually dissolves into the body. Absorb is an investigational device that is referred to as a bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS). It’s a small mesh tube made from polylactide, a material that’s commonly used things like dissolvable stitches.

“It’s called a scaffold because it’s truly temporary,” explained Dr. Robert Merritt, Mercy cardiologist and the site’s principal investigator in the trial. “It basically evaporates from the body. Since there isn’t a metal stent left behind, patients who need treatment in the future can get another stent. Right now, a patient with several metal stents in one area of an artery may have no choice but open heart surgery.”

This is a randomized study, so patients don’t know if they are receiving a metal stent or the new Absorb scaffold. The trial will enroll approximately 2,250 patients, and researchers will determine the safety and effectiveness of the Absorb BVS as well as how much natural motion may return to the vessel after the stent dissolves. Absorb leaves behind two pairs of tiny metallic markers, which will help doctors see where it was placed.

“If the Absorb scaffold works, it could represent a significant leap in the treatment of coronary artery disease,” said Dr. Merritt.

Absorb was developed by Abbott, which is the first company in the world to begin testing a bioresorbable vascular scaffold in patients in the United States. If you are interested in participating in the study, please call Mercy Medical Research Institute at (417) 841-0250.

Mercy recently ranked, alongside technology giants Microsoft and Cisco, as a top technology innovator in the InformationWeek 500. Mercy made the elite 250 list, ranking #199, for leading the use of technology to provide exceptional patient care.

The innovation that earned Mercy the Top 250 spot was the life-saving Early Identification and Warning System (EIWS) as part of Mercy's sepsis program. The warning systemsoftware looks at more than 700 criteria as early warning signs of sepsis and correlates these criteria in real-time along with other patient information to determine who meets early sepsis identification. EWIS early identification lets clinicians know which patients to closely monitor and treat, reducing the length of hospital stay, costs of care and – most importantly ­– saving lives. 

 To learn more about how Mercy is putting the brakes on sepsis, click here.

It may be the first opportunity some Americans have had to get health insurance, but the Oct. 1 opening of the Missouri Health Insurance Marketplace could be confusing to those trying to access the system for the first time.

Mercy is ready to help. With a $573,000 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH), Mercy has hired 17 Certified Application Counselors (CACs). Those counselors will work directly with Missourians to help them understand and choose the most appropriate insurance coverage for their families. They will be available for in-person appointments at Mercy hospitals in St. Louis, Washington, Jefferson County, Springfield, Lebanon and Joplin. To get started, just dial toll-free 1-855-900-4140.

“This effort aligns with Mercy’s values to seek out and put the needs of others first,” said John Young, executive director of Access for Mercy. “We know that many who don’t have insurance put off going to the doctor because they worry they can’t afford it. That often leads to unnecessary complications. Our hope is that we can help people get coverage so they feel comfortable accessing the care they need.”

This grant is part of Cover Missouri, a larger education effort, funded by MFH to expand health care coverage. MFH estimates 17 percent of Missourians are uninsured, and the goal is to reduce that number to 5 percent in five years.  Cover Missouri’s mission is to promote quality, affordable health coverage for every Missourian. The Cover Missouri Coalition, which includes Mercy and more than 160 other organizations around the state, aims to reduce the rate of uninsured Missourians to less than five percent in the next five years. Members work to build awareness, facilitate enrollment and increase health insurance literacy. Along with the grants that fund the CACs, the coalition has an interactive, nonpartisan website: www.covermissouri.org.

While many questions won’t be answered until the marketplace opens on Oct. 1, Young says one thing is clear. “Mercy will be here to guide you through the process and provide the help you need. The initial enrollment period lasts for six months, and we’ll work to get you scheduled with a counselor as soon as possible. Just call our toll-free number to get started.”

It’s coming earlier than usual this year. The dreaded three-letter illness that sneaks up on its victims and knocks them out for days, weeks or worse. Seasonal flu is back, and it’s getting a head start.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates the normal flu season peaks in January or February in the U.S. and occurs as early as October and as late as May. Mercy docs started reporting cases of flu in early September.

This time of year, lots of questions fly around about the flu. Hopefully, this will clear up some confusion.

Flu Facts (supported by CDC):

• Everyone six months and older should get vaccinated, including pregnant women.
• Nasal vaccines are not recommended for pregnant women or children younger than two years old.
• One vaccine will protect you all season.
• The flu shot will not give you the flu. The viruses in flu shots are dead, so they can’t cause infection.
• Most common side effects of getting flu shots are soreness and redness at the shot site.
• It takes the body about two weeks to gain protection after getting vaccinated. It’s possible to become ill with the flu in that time window.
• It’s possible to become sick with a strain of flu that the flu shot won’t combat. Flu vaccines are designed to protect against viruses experts predict will be the most common during the upcoming season. The 2013-2014 trivalent flu vaccine is made from these three most common viruses:
• Influenza A (H1N1)
• Influenza A (H3N2)
• Influenza B

Three generous gifts are combining to make a big difference for children and families in the Ozarks. Mercy Health Foundation announced the donations at its annual dinner in late September.

On the heels of a $2 million gift last year for the Betty and Bobby Allison neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Mercy, local self-made millionaire Bobby Allison has generously increased his contribution by another $650,000. A tour through the NICU led to his initial donation. “It’s not really a gift from me. It’s a gift to me. I get a lot more out of it than I put in – than I could ever put in,” he said. Allison always pays tribute to his mother when he makes a donation. “I just can’t say enough about her – that’s why I put it up on walls.”

19-year-old Christy Eggers was killed in a car crash when another driver crossed the center line and hit her head-on. Her father, Charles, took the money that was in her checking account and the insurance payment and began investing it. He’s made enough to give a gift of $500,000. “This is what we’re donating – not my money. It was her money that we worked over 40 years to get. She babysat a lot and she loved kids and that’s what we wanted to do – use her money to help children in the hospital.”

The Mercy Health Auxiliary is made up of volunteers who do everything from making deliveries to patients to answering questions and giving directions. They also help run the gift shop and coordinate various fundraisers. All that work is paying off with a gift of $500,000 to Mercy’s Family Resource Center, which runs educational programs like childbirth classes for expectant parents. “It gives us a chance to provide help, particularly for folks in need but also young families to get started in the right way,” said Mercy auxiliary member Bruce Morton.

The east wing of Mercy Hospital Springfield is currently undergoing renovations as it converts to a pediatric hospital. The Jane Pitt Pediatric Cancer Center, a St. Jude affiliate clinic, has already relocated to the first floor. A kid-friendly café and gift shop are also finished. Completion of the building’s exterior is set for later this fall. “It’s so heartwarming to see members of our community step up to help fund this effort,” said Dr. Robert W. Steele, president of Mercy Hospital Springfield. “As a pediatrician, I know caring for kids in a bright, cheerful and fun place will strengthen our connection to them. We want them to feel comfortable coming to see us, whether they’re well or in need medical care.”

For a video with no supers or music, visit: Mercy Health Foundation Donors - No Music

While Halloween comes just once a year, physicians warn the candy intake frenzy synonymous with trick-or-treating is just part of an alarming pattern of poor nutrition choices creating a health crisis for our children.

• Drinking sodas and juices loaded with sugar
• Eating too many processed foods containing high fructose corn syrup – cookies, chips, ice cream and candies
• Regular consumption of white flour products (pasta, pizza, etc.) and starchy vegetables like potatoes
• Eating fast food
• Snacking late at night
• Not getting enough physical activity to offset calorie intake
• Not getting enough sleep

KINGFISHER, Okla. (Nov. 1, 2013)– Kingfisher Regional Hospital and Mercy have signed a lease agreement and named Brian Denton administrator for the hospital.

Denton comes from Mercy St. Francis Hospital, in Missouri, where he directed outpatient services including imaging, laboratory, therapy services (physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory), and the sleep disorders center. He also managed the rollout of the electronic health record for the hospital – an experience that will benefit Mercy Hospital Kingfisher greatly.

Prior to joining Mercy in 2006, he served as director of imaging for DeWitt Hospital and Nursing Home in DeWitt, Ark.

Denton earned a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Missouri and he holds associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in radiologic technology from The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Denton enjoys fishing, hunting, golf, and any sports his children are playing. He and his wife of 17 years, Angie, have three children – Payton, Carter and Addie – and recently relocated to Kingfisher.

Since entering a management agreement in April 2011, Mercy and Kingfisher Regional Hospital leadership have worked to make changes in services and operations that stabilized the financial viability of the hospital.

Under a lease agreement, co-workers of Kingfisher Regional will become Mercy co-workers and the hospital will be named Mercy Hospital Kingfisher.

In addition to its faith-based values and reputation for excellence, Mercy brings to Kingfisher an array of resources that most community hospitals don’t have, like an integrated supply chain that provides for value-based purchasing. Because of its size, Mercy can purchase medications and supplies in volume and at a lower cost than an independent hospital.  

Also, Mercy is able to offer the community important technologies like telemedicine – which uses high-tech, audio-visual equipment to connect physicians with patients in rural areas – and an integrated electronic health record (EHR). 

Recently named one of the nation’s “Most Wired” health care organizations by the American Hospital Association’s flagship publication, Hospitals & Health Networks, Mercy is among only nine percent of hospitals nationwide with an EHR sophisticated enough to access and share medical records among multiple Mercy facilities in a four-state area.

An EHR makes patient information more readily available to physicians, which helps prevent unnecessary treatments and duplication of expensive tests. And unlike physical records, an EHR safeguards this information in the event of natural disasters.

Mercy is the sixth largest Catholic health care system in the U.S. and serves more than 3 million people annually. Mercy includes 32 hospitals, 300 outpatient facilities, 39,000 co-workers and more than 2,000 integrated physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has outreach ministries in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

###

Story Covered By

• The Oklahoman

MISSOURI -- The return of firearms deer hunting season this weekend means hunters will be out in full force, but an increasing number of them will end up in the ER without even firing a shot.

Across Missouri, Mercy Trauma Services sees injuries -- including paralysis -- resulting in tree stand falls each hunting season. In Springfield, 12 patients were treated for falls from tree stands during the hunting season last year. That was up from four in 2011 and six in 2010.

“Without a doubt, we’ll see some this year,” said Dr. Joe Olivi with Mercy Springfield. “In 2012, each of those patients had spinal fractures and some even had spinal cord injuries. Tree stands are usually higher than one story, so depending on the type of fall, it could lead to paralysis or even death.”

The National Bowhunter Education Foundation urges hunters to read manufacturers’ instructions and practice setting up their stands before heading out for the season. Poor installation, bad stand structure and excessive weight can cause hunters to fall.

Dr. Olivi suggests hunters always use a safety harness when climbing in a tree; carry a cell phone in case you need to call for help; and follow general rules of safe gun handling. “It may also be beneficial to take along a first aid kit and remember to just be careful and take your time,” he explained.

Firearms deer season runs Nov. 16-26, 2013. Visit the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Tree Stand Safety here: http://bit.ly/MDCTreeStand.

A familiar face among Mercy nursing staff in southwest Missouri will now lead nurses across the organization.

Linda Knodel has assumed the role of senior vice president/chief nursing officer for Mercy, effective immediately. She will continue to serve as chief nursing officer (CNO) for Mercy’s central region.

In her new role, Knodel will provide executive leadership for all activities and programs that affect the more than 10,000 nurses who practice across Mercy in hospital, clinic and other outpatient settings. She will serve as a member of Mercy’s executive leadership team, senior operations team and Joint Presidents Council.

“As nurses, we are recognized as the coordinators of care, no matter the setting,” said Knodel. “Having a presence and voice at the executive tables will ensure that we are meeting the needs of the Mercy health ministry and the communities served.”

Knodel, a registered nurse for nearly 40 years with a long list of credentials – MHA, MSN, CPHQ, NE-BC, FACHE – joined Mercy in 2010 as an executive leader and CNO in the Springfield region. Earlier this fall she assumed expanded responsibility for the central region.

“During her time with Mercy, Linda has proven herself to be an outstanding leader with the experience, knowledge and communication skills that are critical to helping advance Mercy Nursing,” said Mike McCurry, Mercy executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Linda was recently named president elect for the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) and has been a member of AONE’s national planning committee for the past three years. She’s also served as a board member and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and she has held numerous leadership roles with – and received many recognitions and honors from – a variety of professional health care organizations.

Knodel earned a master’s degree in health care administration from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn., and a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D. Knodel completed a fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School. She also recently published a book, “Nurse to Nurse: Nursing Management.”

You’ve packed the gifts, unplugged the electronics and dropped the pets off at the kennel, but there’s one thing you don’t have to check off your holiday travel list: your Mercy doctor.

No, your primary care physician isn’t tagging along to meet the family. Even better – he or she can be at your fingertips no matter where you’re celebrating. More adults are scheduling e-visits each month through MyMercy, an online service that gives patients in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma the ability to track health history, schedule appointments, contact a doctor and renew prescriptions.

“I started e-visits the moment I signed up for MyMercy and now I’m a frequent user,” said Joann Wolf, a small business owner in Springfield, Mo. “I’ve been having more things going on in the last few months and I really didn’t have the time to drive all the way to the doctor’s office.” Better yet, Wolf didn’t even have to put her shoes on.

For the price of a typical co-pay, busy patients can get secure care and the coordination of the Mercy care team for non-urgent medical conditions like coughing, heartburn, red eye, back pain, sinus problems and diarrhea. “I just needed something to kick my sinus infection,” added Wolf. “It’s important to know your doctor and your body, but for bigger issues, they’ll recommend you schedule an in-person visit.”

Every adult primary care physician at Mercy can now be e-visited, including Dr. Rick Williams in Ozark, Mo., who has seen the increase firsthand. “It’s so simple. Patients can do an e-visit any time of day, at their convenience. All you need is Internet access. You don’t have to get into a car and drive to a waiting room, where you might be exposed to someone who may have a highly contagious infection.”

Patients must have a Mercy primary care physician and a MyMercy account to set up an e-visit using a computer, tablet or mobile device. “They’ll fill out a questionnaire, navigate through a decision tree and then provide additional details,” explained Dr. Williams. “That information is then delivered in a secure email to my inbox and I’ll diagnose.” At that point, it can be as easy as locating a nearby pharmacy for the medication to be electronically filed and picked up.

“My patients love having their problems handled by their personal physician while on vacation, rather than sitting in an urgent care clinic in a state far from home,” said Dr. Cheryl Fulton in Lowell, Ark. “Getting access to a doctor can be a challenge, so by increasing my availability, everyone wins.”

More than 400,000 people have signed up for MyMercy and the number of e-visits has quadrupled within the last few months. E-visits are intended to be treatment, not advice or information. Patients can expect a same-day response from their doctor, as long as it’s submitted before 4 p.m. on a regular business day. Plans are also in place to expand e-visits to pediatricians.

“It’s definitely a convenience,” added Dr. James Rogers, who helped pioneer the program at Mercy. “It’s a deeper and broader attempt at access. We continue to be mindful of the need for access among all of our patients.”

“It has strengthened my relationship with my doctor,” said Wolf, who encourages others to sign up. “It looks like it’s going to be a rough winter. If you’re not up to getting out in 12 degree weather, e-visits are perfect. Or if you’re heading out of town, grab the laptop just to play it safe.”

When it comes to reducing the cost of health care, prevention is the best medicine. For those without prescription drug coverage, being unable to access medication can lead to additional severe health issues, sometimes requiring emergency care.

For the past two and a half years, the Community Medication Access Program (CMAP) has been quietly working on this problem, connecting low-income patients over the age of 18 in Greene County with resources to get the prescription medications they need. A project of Mercy , CoxHealth, Jordan Valley Community Health Center and The Kitchen Clinic, CMAP has helped more than 4,000 patients obtain medications worth an estimated $24 million - at no cost. CMAP is now expanding to include all counties in the CoxHealth and Mercy Springfield Communities service areas, bringing a much-needed resource to those who need help the most.

“We know that when patients can’t afford the medications they need, they often end up in the emergency room. We see this on a regular basis,” said Karen Kramer, CoxHealth vice president and chief nursing officer. “Through CMAP, patients are able to get their necessary medications and stay healthy. We’re excited to expand the program beyond Greene County, so everyone in our area who is eligible can benefit.”

CMAP works by connecting those in need with the many prescription assistance programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. These programs, while helpful, can be confusing to navigate. CMAP significantly simplifies the process for patients. They apply to CMAP, and the program’s staff works with the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture each of their prescriptions.

Becki Jones has been a CMAP client since the summer, and sings the program’s praises: “I have been helped so much,” she said. “Once I provided them with the paperwork they needed, they took over. They knew exactly what they were doing. It’s been such a relief.” Because of CMAP, Jones receives four medications worth $555 each month, for free.

”This program demonstrates the significant value the community can derive when the provider organizations collaborate towards a common goal,” said Dr. Dominic Meldi, Mercy medical director for care management. “Without CMAP, a significant number of uninsured patients in our community would remain untreated. This solution is so consistent with our mission of improving the health of the communities in which we serve.”

Patients can self-refer to the CMAP program by calling 417-820-9290 or toll free 877-480-6900, or be referred by their physician. Guidelines for participation are straightforward. Patients:

• must be 18 – 64 years of age
• must have an income that is 200 percent or less of the federal poverty level
• must have no current prescription coverage
• must be a patient of a provider associated with one of the four participating organizations

“CMAP undoubtedly improves health outcomes for people in our community. Too many individuals are faced with the dilemma of how to pay for food, medication, or shelter and the untenable choice of deciding which they can do without. Too many people skip on the very medication they need because they can’t afford it. With CMAP, we increase access to medication and see significant improvements in our patients and their abilities to manage chronic conditions. We are proud to participate in CMAP and help remove a barrier to care,” said Dr. Matthew Stinson, medical director of Jordan Valley Community Health Center.

CMAP was originally a program of the Springfield-Greene County Regional Health Commission, with funding provided in part by a grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health. When that grant ended, CoxHealth and Mercy agreed to provide the bulk of the program’s funding, recognizing the importance of the project. Other funding has come by way of a generous Force for Good grant from Mercy Clinic co-workers. Program leaders continue to seek financial support through additional grants and donations.

As Jones, the CMAP client, puts it, “Everyone needs to know about this program.”

It’s usually a time for joy. The first ultrasound gives parents a sneak peek at the baby who’s on the way. For Nicole Jackson, though, that visit left her with a lot of fear. The doctor saw something that wasn’t quite right, and confirmed it about five weeks later. Her baby would be born with gastroschisis.

Gastroschisis happens when a baby’s abdominal walls don’t form correctly, creating a hole which allows the intestines and other organs to grow outside the body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 1,871 babies are born with this condition each year in the United States. It requires surgery almost immediately after birth.

“I was devastated,” said Jackson. “You never think anything like that could happen to you or your child. I was a mess.” Doctors assured her there wasn’t anything she could’ve done to prevent the problem, and told her a pediatric surgeon would be on standby when she delivered.

Because of the complication, Jackson’s doctor kept a very close eye on her pregnancy. An ultrasound at 32 weeks gestation showed the baby’s intestines were enlarged, so Jackson came to Mercy to deliver her baby by cesarean section. Little Azriel Dominique Hernandez weighed just two pounds and six ounces. Mercy Kids pediatric surgeon Dr. Troy Spilde was ready to jump in to help.

“Gastroschisis is a fairly urgent condition,” Dr. Spilde explained. “We have to get the intestines covered fairly quickly. We get into an operating room with our team quickly for these little ones.”

While waiting was difficult, Jackson says the surgery seemed quick, and Azriel came out of it just fine. After a few days of sedation on a ventilator, Azriel was eating at five days old. “We were just amazed at her progress,” said Jackson.

Several weeks in Mercy’s neonatal intensive care unit followed. Despite the daily, 45-minute drive from Bolivar, Nicole says having the specialized care her family needed so close to home was a blessing. “I can only imagine if we’d had to go to St. Louis or Kansas City for care,” she said. “I would’ve had to choose between staying with my newborn or seeing my older son every day. I feel very fortunate that they have the pediatric surgeons here.”

Those surgeons are part of a Mercy Kids team that includes more than 700 pediatricians, family doctors and 125 pediatric specialists across the four states Mercy serves. For Jackson, having those doctors available in Springfield meant a lot. “Mercy has truly helped our daughter and our family beyond our expectations.”

Springfield-area residents enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Options PPO plan now have access to Mercy Hospital Springfield and some 430 physicians within Mercy Springfield Communities.

This new network relationship also includes more than 50 doctors who comprise the largest staff of locally-based pediatric specialists in the region at Mercy Kids. Their areas of expertise range from hematology and oncology to neurosurgery, orthopedics, gastroenterology, behavioral health and psychiatry. In addition, Mercy Kids is home to the Jane Pitt Pediatric Cancer Center, a St. Jude-affiliate clinic. For adult patients, Mercy has the most advanced heart, eye and neurology teams in southwest Missouri, along with the region’s only dedicated burn treatment unit.

“We feel it’s important to provide our local community with health care choices – people shouldn’t have to travel to a larger city to see a specialist if there’s one right across town,” said Dr. Robert W. Steele, president of Mercy Hospital Springfield. “Accessing health care in more rural areas can often be challenging because of the limited number of care providers. The addition of Mercy doctors and advanced practitioners to the UnitedHealthcare network should be a great benefit to individuals and families living outside of Springfield.”

Under this new network relationship, Mercy Hospital Cassville will also be in-network for UnitedHealthcare Options PPO plan members. Additionally, Mercy Hospital Aurora and Mercy St. Francis Hospital will be in-network for all UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored plan participants. Mercy Hospital Lebanon continues to be in-network for all UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored plan customers.

“Mercy is an important addition to our care provider network, and we know our customers appreciate having access to quality care close to where they live and work,” said Steve Walli, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Heartland States.  “Our new relationship with Mercy builds on UnitedHealthcare’s commitment to provide Missourians with broader access to quality, cost-effective care.”

Force for Good, a project of Mercy Clinic in Mercy's Springfield Communities, is celebrating its tenth anniversary. In winter of 2003, Mercy Clinic doctors and co-workers got out their personal checkbooks to raise funds for local nonprofits. It was so successful, the effort has become a tradition with grants awarded twice each year. So far, Force for Good has given back nearly $1.6 million to the Ozarks. This time, seven local organizations are receiving grants totaling $105,490:

The Arc of the Ozarks                                           $15,500
The money will be used to purchase and replace durable equipment for people with developmental disabilities.

Nova Center of the Ozarks                                  $5,000
The grant will be used to fund additional dental services for the developmentally disabled.

Springfield Urban Agriculture Coalition           $16,650
The funds will support the Dig in R-12 (DIRT) schoolyard garden project.

Hillcrest High School                                            $5,000
The money will fund the Hornet Loft clothing and shoe bank.

Ronald McDonald Tooth Truck                         $9,340
The grant will fund the purchase of two new dental chairs.

Community Medication Access Program        $50,000
A joint project of Mercy and CoxHealth, the program provides prescription assistance for those without insurance who are unable to afford their medications.

Good Samaritan Care Clinic                                $4,000
Located in Mountain View, Mo., the clinic serves uninsured patients. The money will purchase diabetic testing supplies and medication.