Health | Sedalia Democrat

While the death rate for falls in older adults is increasing, falls are avoidable with proper care and attention to personal health and environmental conditions.

Falls can happen to anyone at any time, from children to athletes to the elderly. In the last six months, over 360 people have gone to Bothwell Regional Health Center’s Emergency Department for … more

12/10/22

Plan ahead to avoid cold-weather injuries

It’s December in Missouri, so it’s only a matter of time before we experience our first bout of winter weather that may include freezing temperatures, snow, ice or all three at … more

12/10/22

Kathy Woolery, left, is a registered nurse and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist in Bothwell Regional Health Center’s Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation program. Woolery has supported Sedalian Kelly Anspaugh since he joined the program after receiving a battery-operated heart pump in 2017 and again after a heart and kidney transplant in 2022.

Cardiac rehab helps double transplant patient thrive

When Sedalia resident Kelly Anspaugh left for the hospital on March 18, 2022, he didn’t think he’d be coming home. “That’s how bad I was,” Anspaugh said in a … more

12/10/22

Ambulance district to add station in 2023

When the Pettis County Ambulance District was formed in 2013, leaders projected the service would respond to 3,700 calls a year. Nine years later, that call volume has more than doubled and continues … more

12/10/22

The Sedalia Fire Department has free carbon monoxide alarms available to the public through its fire prevention and education program. Department members also visit schools and businesses to provide education and training. From left, Firefighter Brennan Akeson, Battalion Chief Ken Schlesselman, Firefighter Matt Kowalski, Chief Matt Irwin and Inspector Jamie Volk.

Carbon monoxide: The silent killer

Carbon monoxide is a gas produced when ordinary fuels like gasoline, kerosene, wood, propane and natural gas burn. When you breathe it in, the gas prevents your blood cells from carrying enough … more

12/10/22

Bothwell Family Medicine Associates and Bothwell Eldenburg Family Practice are planned to move to Bothwell Healing Arts Center at 3700 W. 10th Street and join Bothwell Family Health and become a single family medicine practice. The merger will mean more space for patient care and physician growth as well as for medical student and resident teaching.

Federal grant to help fund clinic moves

Bothwell Regional Health Center has received a nearly $1.1 million grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Residency Planning and Development Program. Funds … more

12/10/22

RSV season hits Pettis County

As Pettis County approaches the winter season, residents are beginning to see cases of RSV spike across the area. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a contagious yet common virus that … more

By Skye Melcher, skyem@sedaliademocrat.com | 12/2/22

Charlotte Edwards was diagnosed with cancer one year ago. Family support and community well-wishers kept her spirits high through months of treatments.

Edwards back at work after cancer

Charlotte Edwards owns The Country Ruffle, a unique gift shop at 200 W. Third St. in Sedalia. She has been operating the boutique for almost 35 years, and her customers make the hard work … more

By Chris Howell, chrish@sedaliademocrat.com | 10/31/22

The American Red Cross is preparing for several blood drives across the area ahead of the holiday season.

Red Cross gears up for fall blood drives

The American Red Cross is preparing for a drop in blood donations during the holidays by offering several blood drive donation sites across Missouri in the next few weeks. In addition, those who give … more

By Faith Bemiss, fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com | 10/25/22

Donna Barnes, 67, of Sedalia, is a breast cancer survivor. Her small but aggressive cancer was found with a mammogram in 2021. After treatments, Banes is now cancer free.

Barnes: mammogram finds small, aggressive cancer

Cancer was the furthest thing from Donna Barnes’ mind when she made an appointment with her doctor for a well-woman visit in 2021. Barnes, 67, of Sedalia, who has no breast … more

By Faith Bemiss, fbemiss@sedaliademocrat.com | 10/25/22

Brain and spinal cord specialist joins Bothwell team

On Aug. 1, Jonathan Beary, DO, became Bothwell Regional Health Center’s first full-time neurologist who can diagnose, treat and manage disorders of the brain and nervous system. Beary … more

8/12/22

Lindsey Graham, certified physician assistant at Bothwell Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, performs a demo on the new EyeBOX concussion assessment device with an attendee at Bothwell’s Athletic Injury Conference recently held at State Fair Community College.

Moving beyond ‘follow my finger’

Last summer, Bothwell Regional Health Center became the first health system in Missouri to have an EyeBOX, an FDA-cleared device that aids specifically in the diagnosis of concussion by measuring … more

8/12/22

Buyer beware: Medicare Advantage plans have red flags

A recent report by the federal Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) revealed a trend among some Medicare Advantage plans of inappropriately denying or delaying … more

8/12/22

Dr. Stuart Braverman, right, performs surgery recently at Bothwell Regional Health Center with Cheri Gorrell, scrub nurse. Medical students are often able to assume the role of “first assistant” working across from surgeons, where they learn by helping select equipment, hold open incisions, stop bleeding or close incisions.

The power of mentorship

Dr. Stuart Braverman was 12 years old when he donned a gown and gloves and scrubbed into a surgery to watch his dad, Dr. Elliot Braverman, fix a broken ankle in the operating room. Nearly 40 years … more

8/12/22

Learning rural health care in real time

In July, Bothwell Family Medicine Associates welcomed two new University of Missouri medical students for a year-long training program. October Zhang and Abby Beach are participants in … more

8/12/22

Laura Weisenburger, Nursing Education educator/recruiter, assists Liz Hackett, Same Day Surgery/PACU charge nurse, on how to use the VR training system.

Giving community helps Bothwell Foundation provide care, technology

Individual and business donations made to the Bothwell Foundation to establish funds and through special events are being put to good use in the hospital and outpatient clinics. The … more

8/12/22

Bothwell Regional Health Center staff members will help offer free blood pressure screenings on two days during the Missouri State Fair.

Free blood pressure checks for people 60 and over at MSF

The Missouri State Fair begins Aug. 11 and events and activities will soon be in full swing. One event includes free blood pressure screenings for people 60 and older in the comfort of an … more

8/12/22

Smith-Cotton's Brody Neth, left, tackles a Warrensburg ball carrier during a game against Warrensburg at Walton Stadium on Sept. 11, 2020.

Injury clinic provides student-athletes care options

Student-athletes around the area are gearing up for fall sports, and with every season comes new friendships, memories and, unfortunately for some, injuries. For the fifth year, Bothwell … more

8/12/22

Bothwell Regional Health Center and Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care will jointly host a grief support group on Monday evenings starting in August.

You are not alone: grief support group forming

In collaboration with Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care, Bothwell Regional Health Center will host a Grief Recovery Method Outreach Program from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Mondays starting Aug. 22 and … more

8/12/22

First resident physicians coming in July

After years of planning and work, Bothwell Regional Health Center will see its first two resident physicians join the medical team in July. Brittany Pendergraft and Levi Harris will be the first … more

5/20/22