Direct Line with Steve Edwards for 9/27/2019

Former board member to be remembered at service

This week we learned the sad news that Ralph Slavens, 87, a former CoxHealth board member, passed away. Funeral services will be heldMonday, Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home in Springfield.

CoxHealth recognized as “Most Wired”

The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) has recognized CoxHealth as a 2019 Healthcare’s Most Wired hospital. CoxHealth is one of only 421 award recipients in the United States, or the top 2% nationally, out of more than 16,000 participants in CHIME’s 2019 national survey that honors hospitals and ambulatory clinics that are adopting IT technologies and strategies that support improved patient care.

Report ranks Springfield as most concentrated health care market

The Health Care Cost Institute’s Healthy Marketplace Index lists Springfield as the most concentrated healthcare market in the nation. The report, an analysis of levels of competition in hospital markets, shows our patient costs are 6% below national average despite caring for a sicker population.

Drive collects nearly two tons of food

A total of 3,500 pounds of healthy food was collected in four hours during events this week on our Springfield hospital campuses for the 2019 CoxHealth Healthy Food Drive in conjunction with Crosslines. Donation barrels are set up through September to collect even more food for the drive benefitting a food insecurity program for CoxHealth patients in need.

CoxHealth at Home ribbon cutting ceremonies

Ribbon cutting ceremonies are planned at four CoxHealth at Home branch locations in Branson, Monett, Joplin and West Plains. The events in October will mark the transition at the locations to the new name and company for all home health services at CoxHealth.

CoxHealth Urgent Care in Monett expands hours

CoxHealth Urgent Care will be open seven days a week starting Saturday, Oct. 5. In addition to opening on weekends, the walk-in clinic, located at 102 E. Cleveland Ave., will have new hours of operation, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Previously, hours were 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Voice of the patient

“Every nurse I interacted with from start to finish was exceptional in knowledge, skill and courtesy.”

Thank you for everything you do to support our patients and our community,

Steve