Central Ozarks Medical Center

Friday, April 3, 2020

Coping with COVID-19

All of us know by now that this is an intense, but a unique time in history. We can all get through this together, but it takes everyone. Our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to share some vital information with you from the CDC on coping with COVID-19. This COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live our everyday lives. Keep reading for what the CDC recommends to do during this time. Please remember if you are on your way into Central Ozarks Medical Center and are showing signs of COVID-10, shortness of breath, coughing, or a fever, please call ahead and we will be prepared for you.

INFORMATION FROM THE CDC

Daily Life and Coping

Learn how you can plan, prepare, and cope with stress before and during a COVID-19 outbreak.

Plan and make decisions in advance of an illness.
Know how to protect and support the children in your care.
Find ways to cope with stress that will make you, your loved ones, and your community stronger.

Stay informed and in touch

Get up-to-date information about local COVID-19 activity from public health officials
Ask your neighbors what their plan includes.
Create a list of local organizations you and your household can contact in case you need access to information, healthcare services, support, and resources.
Create an emergency contact list including family, friends, neighbors, carpool drivers, healthcare providers, teachers, employers, the local public health department, and other community resources.

Prepare for possible illness

Consider members of the household that may be at greater risk such as older adults and people with severe chronic illnesses.
Choose a room in your house that can be used to separate sick household members from others.

Take everyday preventive steps

Wash your hands frequently
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
Be prepared if your child’s school or childcare facility is temporarily dismissed or for potential changes at your workplace.

Watch for symptoms
Stay home and speak to your healthcare provider if you develop any of these symptoms:

Fever or
Cough or
Shortness of breath

If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately
Emergency warning signs include*:

Trouble breathing
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion or inability to arouse
Bluish lips or face

*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.

Keep away from others who are sick
Limit close contact with others as much as possible (about 6 feet)

All of us here at our Central MO health clinics hope that this information finds you well and healthy. We can all get through this together. Remember, we are open! If you are on your way in, give us a call on the way if you are experiencing shortness of breath, coughing, or a fever. We will be prepared for your arrival. Be sure to follow us on our social media channels listed below to stay up to date on our latest announcements.

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

573.765.2510
Dental

Serving Camdenton, Laclede, Pulaski, and Miller Counties

Friday, March 27, 2020

Who's at Higher Risk For COVID-19?

There are more and more updates each and every week in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks feel that it's very important to stay updated as much as you can. With that in mind, we are here to share some information with you about who is at higher risk for COVID-19, in this week's blog. We feel the best way to update you on this important topic is to share the public information that the CDC is putting out there for your benefit. Please remember, if you are coming into one of our Mid-MO health clinics and are showing major symptoms of COVID-19, such as trouble breathing, coughing, or a fever, please give us a call so we can prepare for you. All of our phone numbers can be found on the Central Ozarks Medical Center website, www.CentralOzarks.org.

INFORMATION FROM THE CDC

People who are at higher risk for severe illness

COVID-19 is a new disease and there is limited information regarding risk factors for severe disease. Based on currently available information and clinical expertise, older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Based upon available information to date, those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 include:

People aged 65 years and older
People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
Other high-risk conditions could include:

People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
People who have serious heart conditions
People who are immunocompromised including cancer treatment
People of any age with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] >40) or certain underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, such as those with diabetes, renal failure, or liver disease might also be at risk

People who are pregnant should be monitored since they are known to be at risk with a severe viral illness, however, to date data on COVID-19 has not shown increased risk.

Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications.

Call COMC If You Are Showing Symptoms of COVID-19

We know this is an intense time in history right now but we can get through this together. Follow the safety precautions that the CDC is requesting. Practice social distancing and wash your hands often. Let's slow this spread and get back to our known normal. Please remember if you are on your way in to see us and are showing symptoms of COVID-19, give us a call and we will be prepared for you. Stay safe everyone!

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

Friday, March 20, 2020

Symptoms of COVID-19

These are times of crisis. We all know that. Our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks want you to stay informed and to know what to do during this unfortunate time. Central Ozarks Medical Center is here to share information from the CDC on the coronavirus with you in this week's blog. Remember, if you are headed to one of our Mid-MO health clinics and are feeling any of the coronavirus symptoms, be sure to call ahead so we are ready for you.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

Watch for symptoms
Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath

If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion or inability to arouse
Bluish lips or face

This list is not all-inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.

Know How it Spreads

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

Take steps to protect yourself

Clean your hands often

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact

Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

INFO. FROM HERE.

We here at COMC encourage you to follow our social media channels listed below to stay up to date on our latest announcements. We share a lot of the information from the CDC and we encourage you to do the same. Remember, a crisis like this is going to take all of us to get through, so be sure to follow the CDC guidelines. Stay safe everyone!

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

Friday, March 13, 2020

Healthy Ways of Boosting Your Immune System

It's always good to have a healthy immune system, but with sickness spreading at such a rapid rate it's important to be aware of how to boost your immune system. Our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a few healthy tips on how to boost your immune system. If you feel ill or have any flu-like symptoms, be sure to call your doctor at the Lake of the Ozarks immediately. Central Ozarks Medical Center - We've been providing quality health care in Central Missouri since 1979.

Healthy Ways of Boosting Your Immune System

Eat a variety of immune-boosting foods.
There are healthy foods that you can eat that can actually BOOST your immune system for you, such as:

Red Bell Peppers
Oranges
Garlic
Broccoli
Seafood (Shellfish in particular)
Tumeric
Almonds

These foods are loaded with vitamins and minerals that your body needs to support its immune system.

Limit your drinking of alcoholic beverages.
Drinking too many alcoholic beverages have been known to mess with your immune system in a negative way. If you are going to drink alcohol, just be sure to do so moderately.

Lower your stress level as much as possible.
Lower your stress in a healthy way! Try participating in yoga, breathing exercises, reach out to a friend to talk, just go for a walk, or check out some amazing lake views.

Make a point to regularly exercise.
While regular exercise may sound challenging time-wise, it really doesn't have to be. You likely get a lunch break at work right? Go for a walk around the building or do a few crunches on a exercise ball in your office. Pack your gym bag before work and keep it with you, this way you aren't tempted to go home after work, before stopping by the gym. If you prefer to work out at home, train yourself to work out before dinner, then eat after. This way your calories can likely burn easier.

Sleep 7-8 hours a night.
This is a big one! Do what you need to get your sleep. In today's technology culture, many of us are on our smartphones while in bed. Maybe you have anxiety about checking your work e-mail or you feel you might miss out on something if you aren't checking your social media channels constantly. Your health needs to be a priority.

Boost Your Immune System and Stay Healthy with COMC!

All of us here at Central Ozarks Medical Center hope you found this week's blog helpful. Please be safe and follow the CDC regulations right now. Do your best to sanitize or wash your hands throughout the day and take caution during this time. Feel free to follow us on all of our social media channels listed below to stay up to date on our latest announcements.

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

Friday, March 6, 2020

Health Tips for the WHOLE Family

Being healthy can be easier if the whole family participates! Our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks understand this and that's why we have a few health tips that can work for the whole family in this week's blog. It can also be nice to have a family doctor at the Lake of the Ozarks that all your loved ones can depend on and trust. To make an appointment with an experienced primary care provider at the Lake of the Ozarks, call Central Ozarks Medical Center today. All of our providers and their phone numbers can be found on our website at www.CentralOzarks.org.

Health Tips for the WHOLE Family

Make sure the whole family attends their regular health check-ups.
This can be easier to do when everyone goes to the same place. COMC serves everyone from newborns to the elderly. Visiting your doctor periodically for your wellness checkups is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle for your family.

Get your 8 glasses of water in a day!
If you knew how much sugar you consumed just from beverages alone, you might be shocked.

You can limit your sugar intake by exchanging one of your and your child's mealtime beverages for water.
Be aware that fruit juice contains extremely high concentrations of sugar, as well - just because your child isn't drinking soda does not necessarily mean that she isn't still consuming large amounts of sugar.

Ask your kids what they think being healthy means.
Ask your children what ideas they have to help the family be healthier as a whole. Encourage them to think outside the box.

Change out unhealthy food items for healthy ones.
For example, you can use ground turkey instead of ground beef in your favorite recipes or:

Cauliflower rice for rice
Cauliflower pizza crusts instead of flour and dough-based crusts
Zucchini noodles for noodles
Spaghetti squash instead of spaghetti noodles

...There are many healthier options today. You may even have some fun discovering these healthier items and realize that you may like them more.

Visit local parks for fun outdoor activities!
When the weather is nice, spending time outside provides a great opportunity for little ones to be active and enjoy breathing in the fresh air. Instead of only returning to your usual haunt, try visiting every park in your city (or even some of the surrounding towns). You might find a new favorite!

Family Doctors at the Lake of the Ozarks

All of us here at Central Ozarks Medical Center hope you enjoyed learning about these health tips that can work for the whole family! If you are interested in finding a new doctor for the whole family, consider Central Ozarks Medical Center. We can be reached at the phone numbers listed below and you can also check out our website at www.CentralOzarks.org for more information on the services we provide. Be sure to follow us on all of our social media channels listed below to stay up to date on our latest announcements.

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

Friday, February 28, 2020

Join Us For The 2020 Home, Business and Lake Living Expo!

Have you heard yet? Our Lake of the Ozarks health clinics are going to be in the 2020 Home, Business and Lake Living Expo tonight! Central Ozarks Medical Center is so excited to be a part of this huge community event. Our local Lake of the Ozarks medical center has been providing quality health care in Central Missouri since 1979. We enjoy being involved in the community as much as we can. Keep reading this week's blog to learn all of the need-to-know details regarding the 2020 Home, Business and Lake Living Expo!

Source: www.FunLake.com

Event Name: Home, Business & Lake Living EXPO
Event Dates: Feb 28, 2020 - Feb 29, 2020
Event Location: Lodge of Four Seasons - Campana Hall
315 Four Seasons Dr.
Lake Ozark MO 65049
Phone: 1-800-769-1004
Email: info@camdentonchamber.com
Website: http://camdentonchamber.com/home-business-lake-living-expo/
Hours of Operation: Fri: 3 pm to 7 pm; Sat: 9 am to 5 pm

Event Details: Join Central Ozarks Medical Center at the 2020 Home, Business and Lake Living EXPO. The show will feature a wide range of products and services including:

Consumer goods
Health and wellness
Building contractors and suppliers
Plumbing and electrical supplies
Home improvement and remodeling

...and much more.

Source: http://camdentonchamber.com/home-business-lake-living-expo/

PLEASE NOTE: Booth T-10 is where Central Ozarks Medical Center will be.

Enjoy some delicious food at the Friday night social where the will be hors d’oeuvres from local vendors.

DON'T FORGET: All attendees can sign up at the Chamber of Commerce registration table to be entered into a drawing for a $500, $300 or $200 voucher to use for products and services from the vendors!

All of us here at Central Ozarks Medical Center hope you get to come out tonight or tomorrow and see us at the 2020 Home, Business and Lake Living Expo! It's an honor to be a part of this show that is so great for the community. 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. Our belief is that it is not just what we do here at Central Ozarks Medical Center, but how we do it that makes all the difference. To learn more about the services Central Ozarks Medical Center provides Central Missouri, please visit our website at www.CentralOzarks.org. Follow our social media channels listed below to stay up to date on our latest announcements.

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

Friday, February 21, 2020

Heart Health 101

More than 15,000 deaths happen a year in Missouri that are caused by heart disease, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Services. Take care of yourself means taking care of all parts of your body. Our health clinics at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a few tips for practicing good heart health in this week's blog. Are you concerned about your heart health? Make an appointment with one of our Primary Care Providers at the Lake of the Ozarks today. All phone numbers and health clinic locations can be found on our website at www.CentralOzarks.org.

Be heart smart about how much salt you eat.
The American Heart Association recommends that you consume only 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day and that you do not exceed 2,400 milligrams. Unfortunately, the CDC states that Americans consume, on average, 3,400 milligrams of sodium per day. Prolonged high-sodium diets can result in high blood pressure, edema, weakened bones, and potentially stomach problems. Limiting your sodium intake is an important part of improving heart health.

Stay away from drinking high-calorie drinks!
Being overweight is hard on the body. It makes your heart (and other systems) work harder, and this extra effort can eventually take a toll. Losing weight is rarely easy, but one helpful way to start is to quit drinking sugary beverages that cause you to consume more calories than you may realize. Start by limiting the amount of soda, sweetened tea, fruit juice, and sweetened coffee that you consume on a regular basis. Cutting back on your alcohol intake is important, too.

Sleep 7-8 hours a night.
Maintaining the proper level of sleep on a nightly basis is an important component of keeping your heart healthy. One study cited on WebMD found that young and middle-aged adults who got 7-8 hours of sleep per night had less calcium in their arteries than adults who slept 5 hours or less or 9 hours or more. Calcium buildup in the arteries can be an early sign of heart disease.

Be active and get into a normal exercise routine.
Your body's ease of mobility and range of motion often follows the "use it or lose it" rule. The less you move your body, the harder it will be for you to be active when you do decide to be. It's important to give your body mild to moderate exercise at least a few days per week. It is also important to limit the amount of time you spend sitting down. If you must sit for long periods of time at work, get up and stretch your legs every 1-2 hours.

Practice good heart health and stay away from smoking as well! All of us here at our Lake of the Ozarks health clinics hope you found this blog helpful. Being concerned about your heart health is not something you should have to go through alone. Contact one of our Primary Care Providers in Mid-Missouri today. Check our website at www.CentralOzarks.org to learn more about each of them. You can also follow our social media channels listed below to stay up to date on all of our latest announcements.

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