Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Tips for Picking The RIGHT Doctor for YOU

Nobody wants to be sick in the middle of the holiday season! Finding the right doctor for you can be a struggle sometimes if you don't know where to look and how to go about it. Our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a few tips for picking the right doctor for you in this week's blog. If you are searching for an experienced doctor at the Lake of the Ozarks, consider Central Ozarks Medical Center today. Check out our website at www.CentralOzarks.org for information on all of our healthcare providers at the Lake of the Ozarks.


Tips for Picking The RIGHT Doctor for YOU


Determine if the doctor will take your insurance beforehand.
Insurance companies can be rather selective about the providers/hospitals they have in their networks. It's important to find out whether or not the care you receive from your new provider will be covered by your plan.

Ask around about how kind the doctor is.
This is arguably the most important question you can ask yourself. While it's important to think through your decision logically, choosing your new doctor is an emotional decision as well. As you meet with your new provider for the first time, tap into your subconscious and evaluate how you feel in the presence of your new provider. Does he respect your needs? Does he address your concerns? Does he answer your questions in a way that is easy to understand? Do you feel comfortable and safe in his presence?

Figure out how much time the actual doctor will spend with you versus his staff.
Will your new doctor provide many of your needed services him/herself, or will he/she frequently refer you to an outside specialist?

See what your commute to this doctor would be.
How long is the drive to the hospital or clinic? If there is an emergency, will you be able to receive treatment in a timely manner?

See how kind the doctor's staff is.
Do you feel welcomed when you walk in the door? Are you treated with respect? Your doctor isn't the only person you will have contact with at your new clinic, so it's important that you are comfortable with the rest of the staff.


Check to see how long it takes to get an appointment with that particular doctor.
Is there a long waiting list? If you are in need of urgent attention, will your new provider be able to accommodate?

Central Ozarks Medical Center May Be The Healthcare Clinic at the Lake of the Ozarks You Have Been Searching For!


We wish you the best of luck in your doctor search. Our goal is to lead the way to healthier communities. If you are searching for an experienced doctor in the Lake of the Ozarks area, consider COMC. Check out our website to see where our many clinic locations are. Visit www.CentralOzarks.org.


Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare

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For Appointments Call
573.765.5141 -- Richland
573.302.7490 -- Osage Beach
573.346.4446 -- Camdenton
573.317.9200 -- Stone Castle
573.765.2510 -- Dental



Serving Camdenton, Laclede, Pulaski, and Miller Counties

Friday, November 22, 2019

Healthy Activities for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2019 is next week! Can you believe that? This year has really gone by so fast. Our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks understand the food surrounds this holiday and that it is so tempting to eat lots of tasty, yet not so healthy things. Our Mid-MO health clinics are here to give you a few healthy activities to try this Thanksgiving. Not only can you have some fun this Thanksgiving but you may be even to burn a few of those calories off as well. Remember, it's important to have a health check up each year. If you still haven't came in for yours this year, please give our Lake of the Ozarks health clinics a today to make your appointment. All of our locations and phone numbers can be found on our website at www.CentralOzarks.org.


Healthy Activities for Thanksgiving


Run a Turkey Trot!
Each year, it can be a very common tradition for many organizations to organize a 5k run on Thanksgiving and call it a turkey trot. These are very popular and typically will take place in the morning. Many times your proceeds for running the race will go to a great cause. Challenge yourself and sign up for one this year. With them typically being in the morning, that should still give you plenty of time to enjoy time with your family later in the day.

Play football with your family.
Another, healthy but active tradition that some families may participate in on Thanksgiving is a nice, friendly but competitive game of touch football. You can get your daily dose of healthy exercise in and reward yourself with food after. Calories will likely still be burning after your workout anyway.


Play a board game to exercise your mind.
Games like Monopoly, Taboo, Chess, Trivia Board Games, etc. can be great ways to exercise your mind while still having fun with your family. It is so tempting to just eat a bunch of turkey and sides than fall asleep on the couch after but exercising your mind by playing a fun game with your family can a healthy alternative.

Happy Thanksgiving From Central Ozarks Medical Center!


All of us here at Central Ozarks Medical Center would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! You can still stay healthy this holiday and on and continue to meet any weight loss New Year's resolutions you may have set for yourself at the beginning of this year. We are here to help you in any way we can with your health-related goals! Our mission is to increase access to comprehensive primary and preventative health care and to improve the health care status of underserved and vulnerable populations in Camden, Laclede, Miller and Pulaski Counties.


Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Connect with us on LinkedIn

For Appointments Call
573.765.5141 -- Richland
573.302.7490 -- Osage Beach
573.346.4446 -- Camdenton
573.317.9200 -- Stone Castle
573.765.2510 -- Dental



Serving Camdenton, Laclede, Pulaski, and Miller Counties

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Healthy Holiday-Themed Recipes for 2019

The holiday season is upon us and while you may be tempted to eat foods that aren't good for you our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to motivate you to eat healthy this holiday season. Our Mid-MO health clinics are here to share with you a few healthy holiday-themed recipes we found online in this week's blog. The goal of Central Ozarks Medical Center is to lead the way to healthier communities. For more information on what our Lake of the Ozarks health clinics stand for, please visit our website at www.CentralOzarks.org.


Healthy Holiday-Themed Recipes for 2019


Source: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/green-bean-casserole-slimmed-recipe-2009016

Green Bean Casserole - Slimmed

Ingredients
3 to 4 medium shallots, in their skins
Kosher salt, plus 1 1/2 teaspoons
1 pound fresh green beans, stemmed, and halved crosswise
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced (about 4 cups)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups mushroom, vegetable, or chicken broth (see Cook's Note)
3 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
Freshly ground black pepper
Vegetable cooking spray
1 cup fresh bread crumbs

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put the shallots (in their skins) on a small baking dish, roast until soft, about 30 minutes. When cool enough to handle, skin and coarsely chop the shallots. Set aside.
Bring a medium-large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Add kosher salt, to taste. Add the green beans, and cook, uncovered, until crisp-tender and bright green, about 3 minutes. Drain the beans in a colander and rinse with cold water. Transfer the beans to a large bowl.

In the same saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, season with 1 teaspoon salt, cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 7 minutes. Add the mushrooms to the beans.
Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until golden, about 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the broth, increase the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Add the shallots, 1 teaspoon of the thyme, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until thickened, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Pour the sauce over the vegetables and stir to combine evenly.

Spray a 2-quart baking dish with vegetable cooking spray. Transfer the vegetable mixture to the pan. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of thyme to bread crumbs and scatter over the vegetables. Bake uncovered until the sauce bubbles and the crumbs brown, about 20 minutes.


Source: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/eggplant-ricotta-bites-recipe-1973666

Eggplant Ricotta Bites

Ingredients
1 medium eggplant
Kosher salt
All-purpose flour, for dredging
2 large eggs
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons extra- virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
2 large plum tomatoes, diced
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1 cup ricotta cheese
Shredded fresh basil, for topping

Directions
Thinly slice the eggplant into rounds and season with salt. Pour some flour into a shallow dish. Beat the eggs in another dish. In a third dish, mix the breadcrumbs and parmesan. Dredge the eggplant in the flour, then dip in the eggs and coat with the breadcrumb mixture.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, cook the eggplant until golden, about 2 minutes per side, adding more oil between batches, if necessary. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.

Toss the tomatoes with the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil and the vinegar in a bowl. Spoon some ricotta onto each eggplant slice. Top with the tomato mixture and basil.


Source: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/roasted-brussels-sprouts-with-pomegranate-and-hazelnuts-recipe-1973768

Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Pomegranate and Hazelnuts

Ingredients
1 1/4 pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
2 tablespoons canola oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
Seeds from 1 pomegranate
1/2 cup coarsely chopped toasted hazelnuts
Finely grated zest of 1 lime
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest

Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Put the Brussels sprouts in a medium roasting pan; toss with the canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven until light golden brown and a knife inserted into the centers goes in without any resistance, about 45 minutes.

Transfer the sprouts to a large bowl and add the pomegranate molasses, pomegranate seeds, hazelnuts, and lime and orange zests. Season with salt as needed.


Stay Healthy This Holiday Season with Central Ozarks Medical Center!


All of us here at Central Ozarks Medical Center hope you have a Happy Holiday season! We also hope you appreciated these healthy holiday recipes we found online. For more health tips, please follow our social media channels listed below and check out our website at www.CentralOzarks.org.


Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Connect with us on LinkedIn

For Appointments Call
573.765.5141 -- Richland
573.302.7490 -- Osage Beach
573.346.4446 -- Camdenton
573.317.9200 -- Stone Castle
573.765.2510 -- Dental



Serving Camdenton, Laclede, Pulaski, and Miller Counties

Friday, November 8, 2019

Holiday Baby Safety Tips

The holidays are right around the corner and at times things can feel chaotic at home, especially if you are hosting for the holidays. With all the chaos, you still have to manage watching your child. All that being said, our pediatric providers at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a few holiday baby safety tips. If your child is feeling ill and you are in need of a local Lake of the Ozarks pediatrician, call Central Ozarks Medical Center today to make your appointment. Phone numbers and locations can be found on our website at www.CentralOzarks.org.


Holiday Baby Safety Tips


Make sure all cords are out of reach.
Around the holidays, you may find yourself wanting to entertain guests with electronics, such as movies or TV shows, both of which require chords and electricity to work.

  • Cords pose a serious danger to your children. 
  • Most of us seem to plug in our phones every night to charge. 
  • Cords are just used so much in today's technology age.

As you use these electronics just be sure to monitor your children and keep them out of reach as they can be a serious choking hazard.

Make sure every TV is securely attached to the wall.
Secure your TVs. Many people have flat-screen TVs in their homes these days and they can be put on any available surface throughout the home. Children can easily climb up and knock them over. You can secure your TVs with brackets to help keep them from falling over.

Be sure that every outlet has a cover.
Over time, people have used the plugs to protect their children from the electrical outlets in their homes.

  • Now, outlet covers that include sliding doors are available. 
  • Compared to the plugs, they can be much more user-friendly and not as rough to operate. 
  • The plugs have been known to be difficult to take out of the outlet, with a sliding door, you no longer have that issue.

Make sure your child can't get ahold of the baby video monitor.
Video baby monitors can be all the rage now.

  • People are moving away from the audio-only monitors to the video monitors. 
  • Just remember that some of these video monitors come with cords, which can pose a threat to your child. 
  • You can just keep these far out of their reach, away from the crib. 
  • You can also just purchase a wireless video monitor and not have to worry about the cords.

Make sure you secure any piece of furniture that could fall over as your child climbs on it.
There can be many pieces of heavy furniture in homes. Secure them. These pieces of furniture can include desks, chairs, tables, shelves, and other pieces of furniture that can be fun to climb on, but if the furniture is not secured with restraints or brackets, they could fall over.


Be Safe and Healthy This Holiday Season from Central Ozarks Medical Center!


All of us here at our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks wish you Happy Holidays! We also hope you found these holiday baby safety tips helpful. We appreciate all of our pediatric patients here at Central Ozarks Medical Center. Our comprehensive pediatric services include well-child exams, diagnostic tests, follow-up of chronic problems, sports screenings, as well as evaluation and management of growth and health maintenance. For more information on that, please give us a call today.


Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Connect with us on LinkedIn

For Appointments Call
573.765.5141 -- Richland
573.302.7490 -- Osage Beach
573.346.4446 -- Camdenton
573.317.9200 -- Stone Castle
573.765.2510 -- Dental



Serving Camdenton, Laclede, Pulaski, and Miller Counties

Friday, November 1, 2019

Preventative Tips for Not Getting The Flu

The flu has affected so many families out there. In some cases, the flu can even be fatal. Our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a few preventative tips for not getting the flu. Stop it before it even started. If you are suffering from flu-like symptoms, see a healthcare provider at the Lake of the Ozarks as soon as possible. All of our Lake of the Ozarks health clinics and our Richland clinic can be found on our website at www.CentralOzarks.org. Call and make your appointment today.


Preventative Tips for Not Getting The Flu


If you haven't already, get your flu shot.
The flu shot is known as the BEST defense against getting the flu. Even if you have never gotten the flu before, there is a first time for everything. It's worth it to prevent yourself from getting this illness.

Sanitize your surfaces every day.
You should try and get in the habit of cleaning all of the shared surfaces in your home once a day. You should clean your desk at work also once a day. Take the five minutes to give all your surfaces a wipe down with a rag and a anti-bacterial cleaner. You never know who may have touched that surfaces and if they had the flu or were carrying it.

Wash your hands.
Be sure to wash your hand after any time you touch a shared surface. If you are unable to wash your hands, then use an anti-bacterial wipe that has at least sixty percent alcohol in it. All of this may sound excessive to you, but it's worth doing if you don't want to catch the flu. It happens quicker and easier than you might think.

Don't share your food with sick friends and loved ones.
If you share the food you are likely touching the same plate or bowl that someone else touched and that someone else may have an illness.

Boost your immune system.
A healthy immune system will help you fight off the flu and you can keep your immune system healthy by doing a number of things, such as:

  • Exercising regularly
  • Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables
  • Maintaining a healthy BMI
...and so much more. 


Keep The Flu Away With COMC!


Central Ozarks Medical Center is here to help you fight the flu this year! If you are feeling flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, coughing, sneezing, etc. - please make an appointment with a doctor at the Lake of the Ozarks as soon as possible. Do not wait for your symptoms to get worse and cut this illness off early. All of our health clinics in Mid-Missouri can be found on our website at www.CentralOzarks.org.


Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Connect with us on LinkedIn

For Appointments Call
573.765.5141 -- Richland
573.302.7490 -- Osage Beach
573.346.4446 -- Camdenton
573.317.9200 -- Stone Castle
573.765.2510 -- Dental



Serving Camdenton, Laclede, Pulaski, and Miller Counties