CoxHealth

Feeling nervous about your Valentine’s Day date? Dr. James Rice from our cardiovascular services team has the perfect prescription: laughter! It’s good for the soul and your heart - helping to reduce stress, improve circulation and boost overall heart health. 😊 Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at CoxHealth! ❤️

Our leaders are giving back to the community in more ways than one!   Recently, colleagues in our Leadership Education and Development series (LEADs) volunteered with Crosslines Of Springfield, assisting with hygiene needs, food sorting and more. LEADs, launched in 2018, equips newly hired leaders with the knowledge, skills and connections to grow in their roles. Thank you, Crosslines of Springfield, for hosting us and for all you do for our community! 

𝟐 awards. 𝟏 hospital in Missouri to earn both: Cox Medical Center Branson. 🏅 "A" Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit focused on patient safety.  ⭐ 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the highest quality rating from the federal agency. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g6RYD_4Z

We’re seeing an increase in cases of respiratory illness, especially flu, across the region. You can help slow the spread by: 🤧 Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing  🧼 Washing your hands often  🤒 Staying home if you’re feeling sick Learn more on Springfield-Greene County Health’s website. You can also visit our website to learn more about symptoms, treatment, prevention and more: https://lnkd.in/gukEGQeY 

The final Red Friday of the season is here, and our teams are proudly representing The Kansas City Chiefs! 🏈 ❤️ However you’re celebrating the big game this weekend, we hope it’s full of fun and food – we'll be here if you need us.  

So many well-deserved awards at Cox Medical Center Branson! 🏆  Congratulations to these colleagues who earned The DAISY Foundation and CoxHealth Sunshine or PARTNERS Spirit awards this quarter, and thank you for all you do for patients, families and the community.  You're the reason Cox Medical Center Branson is the only hospital in Missouri with both a five-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and an ‘A’ grade from The Leapfrog Group for hospital safety!  

“These facilities are a medical home, and you feel that when you are rounding.” That’s how Max Buetow, our president and CEO, described his experience rounding at Cox Monett Hospital and Cox Barton County Hospital alongside Chief Operating Officer Amanda Hedgpeth and CoxHealth Medical Group President Dr. Timothy Jones, DO, FAAFP During these rounds, our leadership team connected with colleagues on the front lines, witnessing how our mission guides daily care and strengthens our commitment to serving our communities. “The incredible culture of quality and service in our critical access hospitals was recently reinforced by a letter I received from a patient whose life had been saved twice by our teams at Cox Barton County,” says Max. “He mentioned that both times he was blown away by the care he received and the people of Cox Barton County. His story is a testament to the essential work going on in our rural hospitals." 

When Julie Cook, a social worker in our Case Management department at Cox South, announced her retirement, her manager, John Sheldon, administrative director of Case Management, knew he had to make one thing happen before she left: a ride on the floor scrubber – often jokingly called the “Zamboni.” During an overnight shift, Julie spotted one of the machines during her break and admitted she was tempted to take it for a spin. When she later mentioned this to John and how much she wished she could ride one before retiring, he simply replied: “I can make that happen!”   On her last day, Julie, alongside her colleagues, finally got her chance to ride the machine across the skywalk. “It was just the best thing ever. I was so excited,” says Julie. “John is an amazing boss. I really appreciate him allowing me to do that. It was a great last day!” Congratulations, Julie, on your retirement – unless you’re planning a second career as a professional Zamboni operator! 😉

Will you do your part and help us fill our heart? ❤️ Throughout the month of February, the CoxHealth Foundation’s seventh annual Heroes for Healthy Hearts campaign is calling on our community to purchase a $5 heart. Every donation stays local, contributing to the Wheeler Heart and Vascular Fund to support patients and our current cardiology programs. This banner, located in the Wheeler Heart and Vascular Center lobby, will visually highlight the funds raised throughout the month. For more information or to donate, visit https://lnkd.in/gFySyr6e

Did you know that nearly three out of four cardiac events happen in the home? Be prepared to act if a loved one needs CPR! Our EMS team, Mercy’s EMS team and the Springfield Fire Department are offering free, hands-only CPR classes every Saturday in February. Classes are offered from 1–2 p.m. or 2:30–3:30 p.m. During the class, participants will learn bystander CPR techniques and rapid defibrillation with an AED, both proven to improve survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest. Registration is encouraged but not required. For more information and to register, visit www.springfieldmo.gov/CPR