The seven primary and urgent care and 14 specialty clinics of Lake Regional Health System are taking medical records to a new electronic system this spring and summer to the benefit of patients.

Spurred by new regulations in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, hospitals and clinics around the country are gradually making this transition. Lake Regional is an early adopter of the requirement to show "meaningful use" of electronic health records (EHR) by 2015.

Lake Regional Health System is accepting applications for the 2011 Junior Volunteer Program, which begins in June. Civic-minded young people, ages 14-17, who are interested in making a difference in their community are encouraged to apply.

Omega-3 fatty acids have many known health benefits. In regard to heart health, they reduce stickiness of platelets in the blood, help prevent blood clots, and prevent hardening of the arteries. Omega-3’s are also thought to reduce or slow tumor growth in cancer cells, as well as boost the immune system. They also help reduce inflammation in the body, commonly found in some conditions such as arthritis. Omega-3’s may also boost mental health and cognitive functioning, protect against some infections, and help treat a variety of health conditions.

Hospitalist Patrick O’Neil, D.O., has been named Lake Regional Health System’s 2011 Physician of the Year. O’Neil received the award at Lake Regional’s annual Doctors’ Day banquet, held March 30.

Lake Regional Health System recently received $3,000 from Lake Area Christmas for Kids. The money, which was raised at the 2010 event, will help fund Lake Regional’s Trim Kids Program — a practical approach to weight loss and healthy living for school-age children and their parents. The nine-week program, led by LRHS health care professionals, is held twice a year at Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach.

Lake Regional Health System will host the informational forum “Living with Heart Failure” from 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, in the hospital’s third floor conference rooms.

Herbs and spices are used to add flavor, color, fragrance and some “zing” to our food. Without them, our meals likely would be bland. Herbs and spices also have long been used to treat a wide variety of ailments, ranging from digestive complaints, toothaches and headaches to cancer, infection and inflammatory disorders. Research on many herbs and spices reveal there are actual benefits to our health. Here are some findings.

Camden County Health Department will hold a Women and Children’s Injury Prevention Fair to be held at Camden County Health Department, located at 1976 N. Business Route 5 in Camdenton on April 9, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Downsizing, unemployment, salary freezes and rising food and gas prices make it difficult to keep your grocery budget in check. Plus, it seems that healthier foods are also more costly.  Eating healthfully does require more time to plan, shop and cook foods. But in the end, you will be able to bank the benefits — health wise and in your pocket. Following are some tips to help stretch your food budget (and time) without compromising good nutrition.

Scott Poest has been named chief information officer at Lake Regional Health System in Osage Beach, Mo. As CIO, Poest is responsible for directing all information service and technology functions for the health system, including mapping IT initiatives to organizational goals to maximize the value of technology investments.

If you're looking to add fresh flavor and good nutrition to your menu, look no further than the humble avocado. In a salad, as a spread or slider topper or even on the grill -- yes, they can be grilled -- avocados are your source for healthy goodness.

Every single day is a celebration for Dave and Shirley Hicks, and they've been celebrating for 20 years. On March 26, exactly 20 years ago, Shirley underwent surgery where doctors removed both of her lungs replacing them with a single donor lung.

Experimental at the time, doctors believed it would extend her life by a only few years, if she survived the surgery. Without it, Shirley was told she had less than a year to live. The Camdenton couple took the chance.

Metabolism refers to the way the body uses calories (energy). Seventy-five percent of the calories we need are used to sustain vital body functions, like breathing, heart rate, cell growth and repair and waste removal. Ten percent of our calories are used just for the digestion and absorption of the food we eat. The remaining calories we consume give us energy for physical activities, or, if we don’t use them, are stored as fat.

The new Dietary Guidelines were released at the end of January by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Dietary Guidelines are released every five years with information on healthy eating and physical activity for those ages two and older. The Dietary Guidelines are scientific and based on the latest research. Here are some of the key points from the 2010 Dietary Guidelines.

Every spring, I write a special column for golfers, especially overzealous and out-of-shape golfers. My usual emphasis is on how the abrupt and explosive nature of a powerful golf swing places considerable stress on the neck, shoulders, back and hips.

I typically encourage golfers to perform some preparatory conditioning, including strength exercises, for the major muscle groups involved in the sport. These are sound and sensible suggestions that should make the golf season a safer and more successful experience.

Lake Regional Health System’s seven primary care clinics, plus Lake Regional Urgent Care, soon will transition to electronic health records. The process replaces paper records with a high-tech system that allows physicians to view comprehensive patient histories, including medication lists and physicians’ notes. The technology also allows physicians to e-prescribe medications, as well as order lab and radiology testing and view results electronically.

Fiber, in basic terms, is the indigestible parts of plant foods. It is the husk on the grain of wheat, the thin strands in celery, the crunch in the apple and the casings on edible seeds. Fiber protects you from heart disease, cancer and digestive problems. Depending on the type of fiber, (yes, there is more than one) it lowers cholesterol, helps with weight control and regulates blood sugar.

Here’s how to sneak extra fiber into your daily diet with minimal effort...

Register now for Lake Regional Health System’s 4th Annual Fun Run/Walk scheduled 7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 7, at The Oaks Golf Course at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach.

Check-in will begin at 7 a.m. for the 5K run. Registration for the fun walk will begin at 7:30 a.m. Walkers may start immediately after registering.

Lake Regional Health System will hold its annual Children’s Health Fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at Stone Crest Mall in Osage Beach.
Free dental and body mass index (BMI) screenings will be available for children of all ages. Health care professionals also will check vital signs, height and weight. Free amblyopia (lazy eye) and vision screenings will be provided by the Lion’s Eye Tissue Bank and Lensmart.

Cooking with your kids is a great way to introduce them to different foods and cultures, as well as basic math. Best of all, sharing their creative dish at the dinner table can be fun and rewarding.

To have fun with your kids in the kitchen, try some of these creative activities...