Story by Ann E. Butenas Healient Physician Group at St. Joseph Medical Center maintains independence to deliver patient-centered cardiac care. In an era when most cardiology practices have been absorbed into massive hospital systems, Healient Physician Group at St. Joseph Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri, stands apart. Founded in 2013, this independent practice of six cardiologists, one interventional radiologist, ...

Article by Dave Eckert As someone who grew up in a household headed by a single mother with mental health problems, I am personally attuned to children in difficult, sometimes life-threatening, situations. So, when a good friend asked me if I wanted to get involved in a charity auction for KidsTLC, a group that provides a sanctuary for children who’d ...

Story by Jeanie Edgmon How Mid America Cancer Care’s Lifelong Commitment to Clinical Trials Led to a Transformative Partnership In cancer care, geography has always been a quiet determinant of fate. Patients who live near major academic centers often have access to the latest therapies and the newest clinical trials—options that can mean months or even years of life. But ...

Article by Ann E. Butenas When stroke strikes, every second counts, but what happens in the hours, days, and weeks that follow can be just as critical to a patient’s recovery. In the Kansas City metropolitan area, a unique collaborative effort is transforming stroke care by connecting healthcare professionals across the entire treatment spectrum, from the emergency room to rehabilitation ...

Article by Ann E. Butenas A look into how modern emergency departments work, when to seek treatment, and what patients should know about efficient, quality care. Emergency departments across the country face ongoing challenges with wait times and patient flow, but some facilities demonstrate how operational systems and specialized protocols can improve outcomes. Understanding how emergency care works (and when ...

Article by Corinn Ayers Grief looks different for everyone, and at Ascend Hospice & Palliative Care, helping families work through that experience is a central part of the care they provide. The Bereavement Team led by Debra Carter has been with Ascend for nearly four years and brings a background in chaplaincy, women’s ministry, and years of leading faith-based emotional ...

Story by Corinn Ayers Hormones influence nearly every aspect of health, yet many people live without realizing how imbalances affect their daily lives. Melissa Campbell, APRN, is working to change that at Intelligent Health Hormone Therapy KC, where she provides individualized, scientific evidence-based care to help both men and women optimize their hormones and improve overall well-being. “I want people ...

Article by Ann E. Butenas The everyday choices you’re already thinking about making, including better food, more sleep, regular movement, could be exactly what your aching back needs. It’s the New Year, so are you ready for a new you with all of your resolutions in place? Well, here’s something most resolution lists miss: those lifestyle changes you’re already considering ...

Article by Ann E. Butenas FDA label change could open door to better menopause care for millions of women. For more than two decades, a stark, black-bordered warning on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medications has frightened women away from what many experts now say is the most effective treatment for menopause symptoms. But that could soon change, and the shift ...

Article by Jeanie Edgmon Sixteen years ago, Kelly Klover found herself facing a reality she never expected. Her husband, Richard, had just been diagnosed with a melanoma recurrence at age 45. When Richard was 40, a mole on his back had been surgically removed. ”I thought that meant we had taken care of it – end of story,” Kelly recalls. ...