
Dexter, Missouri - the tree-man team of Steve Hyten, Billy Griffin, and Charles Corlies took the $1,000 first place prize in the 2016 Regional Healthcare Fitness Challenge. Steve Hyten were also awarded an additional $250 for having lost the greatest amount of weight. He lost a total of 54.8 pounds during the challenge. "Starvers" as they called themselves had a 17.68 percentage weight loss.
Placing second for $500 was the "G3" team consisting of Nicole Guethle, Sharon Guethle, and Shawn Guethle who lost 15.33 percentage weight loss.
Placing third was the team "AHA Moment" with a 13.99 percentage of weight loss. The team included Alexa Ash, Amy Ash, and Hunter Frampton.
The winners were announced on Monday, May 16th with three teams taking home $2,100 in prize money.
The Regional Healthcare Foundation's Fitness Challenge is held annually from January through April as an incentive to get healthy and lose weight. LeVeda Scates is the patient advocate coordinator and heads the challenge annually.
This program is designed to help citizens of the community to improve health through weight loss. The successful program is based on providing information about health and nutrition for teams of three January thru April each year. Participants report that the team support and weekly weigh-in program for accountability makes losing weight easier and enjoyable.
With the growing concern about the rise of diabetes in our community, people are searching for ways to fight diabetes. The Fitness Challenge offers one step in that fight. In addition to attention to diabetes, participants find that weight loss also combats high blood pressure and heart disease.
The Fitness Challenge Program reflects the Regional Healthcare Foundations’ mission statement: a vision of healthy people living in a healthy community.
Anyone interested in participating in the 2017 “TRI” Team Fitness Challenge should organize their team of three and be ready to begin the challenge in January 2017.
Cash Drawing Winners - $25 each - Travis Adams, Shannon Collier, Jeanie Huey, and Courtney Moore.
Community Supporters for the 2016 “TRI” Team Fitness Challenge : SoutheastHEALTH of Stoddard County, Wal-Mart, Key Rexall, VNA, University of Missouri Extension, and Walgreens.

Dexter, Missouri - The Rotary Club will host a Blood Drive on Tuesday, May 24th from 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Dexter.
The American Red Cross is facing a looming shortage of the blood types most needed by patients and is calling on eligible donors with O negative, B negative and A negative blood to give now to prevent an emergency situation. Blood donation appointments can be quickly and easily scheduled by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
Overall blood donations in the Red Cross Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region have been approximately 3,000 fewer per month in June and July this year than the previous 10 months of the year. When demand for the most needed types begins to outpace donations, the Red Cross alerts donors to help restock the shelves.
Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to patients with any blood type. Types B negative and A negative can be transfused to Rh positive or negative patients. Eligible donors are encouraged to donate double red cells – a process where two units of red cells are collected while most of the plasma and platelets are returned to the donor – where available.
“Summer blood shortages are not uncommon, but they can be prevented when generous volunteers roll up their sleeves to help save lives,” said Todd Wagner, donor recruitment director for the Red Cross Missouri-Illinois Region. “Many donors have already given this summer. We’re now asking donors who haven’t donated, and those who are eligible again, to make an appointment to give now to help ensure blood products are available for patients.”
Platelets and type AB plasma also needed
Platelet donors and those with type AB blood are also continually needed to help ensure patients receive the lifesaving blood products they need. Platelets – a key clotting component of blood often needed by cancer patients, surgical patients and bone narrow recipients – must be transfused within five days of donation, so donations are constantly needed. Donors with type AB blood are urged to give blood or platelets to restock the plasma supply. Type AB donors have the universal plasma type, which can be given to patients of all blood types.
How to donate blood
The free Blood Donor App – available in app stores by searching for American Red Cross or by texting BLOODAPP to 90999 – not only makes appointment scheduling easy, but donors can also access their digital donor card and be notified when their donation is distributed to a hospital. Donors can also visitredcrossblood.orgor call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood donors in the Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visitredcrossblood.org/RapidPassand follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visitredcross.orgor visit us on Twitter at@RedCross.

Missouri AHEC Science & Health Camp for Middle School & High School Students
ATTENTION ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS! Have you ever wondered... What is it like to perform surgery? Work in the ER? Have a career in health care? Stop wondering! Register now for the 2015 Missouri AHEC Science & Health (M*A*S*H) Camps! Learn about science in the field of medicine, nursing, dentistry, and other health care occupations. Participate in hands-on learning activities that include: vital signs, CPR, first aid, suturing, injections, dissections labs, oral health, and more! And YES... have FUN too!
M*A*S*H Camp is a summer day camp held at various locations throughout the area. The following camps will be held this summer:
2016 Middle School M*A*S*H Camps
June 30 – Puxico Junior High School, Puxico, MO
2016 High School M*A*S*H Camps
June 1-2 - South Pemiscot High School, Steele, MO
August 3-4 – Sikeston Career & Technology Center, Sikeston, MO
August 10-11 – TRC Nursing & Allied Health Center, Poplar Bluff, MO
All students must complete an application in advance and submit it by the appropriate deadline. The cost of attending a 1 day camp is $10.00 and a 2 day camp is $20.00. Payment should be in the form of a check or money order made payable to SEMO AHEC and submitted with an application. Applications will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis and participants accepted will be notified by email.
Information and applications can be obtained by visiting www.semoahec.org/mashcamp or by email from Sarah Jackson, SEMO AHEC Program Specialist, at sarah@semoahec.org. Early response is highly encouraged, as capacity is limited for these events.
M*A*S*H* Camp is a collaborative effort of community partners including: the Southeastern Missouri Area Health Education Center (SEMO AHEC), South Pemiscot High School, Puxico Junior High School, Sikeston Career & Technology Center, and Three Rivers College of Nursing & Allied Health. The mission of all academic and community partners in this unique learning opportunity is to provide early exposure and academic enrichment to students who are interested in becoming health care professionals in the Southeastern Missouri region.

No appointments are necessary! If you don't have your insurance, etc at least come get the physical and they can work on the paperwork afterwards.
SoutheastHEALTH physicians and nurse practitioners will be on hand to conduct these physicals. Last year, nearly 300 students benefited from this program.
Please remember that all schools require a parent's signature on the physical form. Also you must provide proof of insurance.
If you have questions please contact SoutheastHEALTH at 573-624-5566 or your local middle school or high school.
If you would like to know more about SoutheastHEATLH and their services go to www.SEhealth.org.

Dexter, Missouri - Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to reach out and help others? Volunteer with Southeast Hospice and become part of a team that provides care, compassion and understanding for terminally ill patients and their families.
As a Southeast Hospice volunteer, you will receive 12 to 15 hours of free training on everything from communication skills and family dynamics to grief and patient/family rights.
Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Pearla Smith says volunteers come from all walks of life but have one thing in common: “to help others and make a positive difference for patients and their families during a very difficult time.”
Smith adds, “Whether it’s providing companionship to a person in the final months and weeks of life, offering support to family members and caregivers, or helping with community outreach and fundraising, the contributions of volunteers are essential to the important work of Southeast Hospice.”
Besides volunteers, the Southeast Hospice team includes doctors, nurses, social workers, ministers and nurse assistants. Southeast Hospice serves patients and their families in Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Perry and Scott counties, and portions of Stoddard, Mississippi and New Madrid counties.
For more information about volunteer training in your area, call (573) 335-6208 or 1-888-397-0646 or go online to SEhealth.org/Hospice.
About SoutheastHEALTH
At SoutheastHEALTH, the region's premier healthcare system in southeast Missouri, our patients receive excellent care of the highest clinical quality, close to home. Within our network are more than 50 care locations in 14 communities, including hospitals, primary and specialty care clinics representing over 30 clinical specialties and extending care for patients in a four-state area. Learn more at SEhealth.org.