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Give Your Body a Jumpstart

The First Week of January is Folic Acid Awareness Week The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges all women of reproductive age to take 400 micrograms (mcg.) of folic acid each day in addition to consuming food rich in folate to help prevent some major... Read more

Pain Management Center: Spinal Cord Stimulators and Cervical Radio Frequency

Bodily pain presents itself to people in many different forms and levels of discomfort, and stems from a variety of factors including accidents, illness, lack of exercise, improper lifting and more. For those suffering from acute and sub-acute pain, there are various forms of treatment readily... Read more

Do You Have Allergies?

Are you one of the 1 in 5 Americans who suffers from allergies? Here in the southeast Missouri region, allergies are common to pollen, mold, dust mites and animal dander. If your symptoms are severe enough, you may need help managing them. Ear, Nose and Throat... Read more

Sore Throat or Strep Throat? How to Tell the Difference

Sore throat is a common complaint in the pediatric population and can be caused by Group A Streptococcus (GAS) otherwise known as "strep throat." Strep throat accounts for 15 to 30 percent of all sore throats in children ages 5 to 15. Viruses are also another... Read more

COVID-19 Myths vs. Facts

MYTH: Wearing a mask means you can continue doing everything you normally do without the need to practice social distancing. FACT: If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter... Read more

Leroy Murray Remains Busy After TAVR Heart Procedure

Leroy Murray is not afraid of a little manual labor. The 84-year-old man, from the small town of Harviell, Mo., worked as a lineman for 40 years and thanks to the TAVR heart procedure still raises cattle, splits wood and mows grass on his farm. Leroy has... Read more

Coronary Revascularization Saves Lives

About every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack, according to the American Heart Association1. Many people who experience chest pain or have a heart attack can benefit from catheterization or surgery to improve their quality of life and even their longevity.... Read more

Surgery at Saint Francis

The Operating Room (OR) is a unique setting in healthcare. It depends on teamwork, communication and surgical conscience (ethics/morality) for anyone who chooses the OR as a career. Besides the obvious goal of providing repairs to bodies, another is to keep Saint Francis Healthcare System patients... Read more

Beware of Genetic Testing Scammers

Beware of scammers targeting Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries offering genetic testing. These scammers obtain Medicare or Medicaid numbers from victims for fraudulent purposes. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued an alert about scammers offering cheek swabs for genetic... Read more

Mother Brings Two Young Children to Same Pediatrician She Saw as a Child

Rachel Shuh is a caring mother who wants the best for her children. When she found out she was expecting her first child, she knew exactly which pediatrician and which pediatric group she wanted to take her new little one to for medical care. Dr. Jean Diemer... Read more

HPV Vaccine Protects Against Certain Types of Cancers

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine prevents cancer against HPV infection. Certain types of HPV can lead to oral and genital cancers. HPV vaccines are highly effective in preventing infection when given before initial exposure to the virus. Similar to the need to put a helmet on before... Read more

Behavioral Health at Ferguson Medical Group

In 2011, Behavioral Health services began at Ferguson Medical Group in Sikeston, Mo. when Dr. David Dahlbeck was hired as the first full-time Behavioral Health provider. Ferguson has since grown to seven full-time Behavioral Health providers with four licensed clinical social workers, one psychological examiner and... Read more

March 17-23 is National Poison Prevention Week

National Poison Prevention Week is March 17-23. It's important to know how to prevent poisoning and what to do if it is ingested. First, look at the container so you know what you've ingested. Many containers give instructions of what to do after accidental ingestion. If it... Read more

Emergency Care vs Urgent Care

When you’re experiencing a life-threatening condition, such as chest pains, a head injury or severe bleeding, the Emergency Department at Saint Francis Medical Center is your best option for medical care. However, if your situation is non-life-threating, such as a sprained ankle or a sore throat,... Read more

Treatment Varies for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder in women that disrupts the growth and release of eggs from the ovaries. Some PCOS symptoms include infertility, missed periods, weight problems and acne. “Treatment for PCOS depends on the goals and symptoms of the individual woman,” says Jessica... Read more

Manage Lupus Symptoms

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack not only foreign substances, but also healthy cells and tissues. This creates inflammation and can affect the joints, skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, blood cells and brain. “Symptoms of lupus can range from mild to... Read more

Sleep Apnea Brings Problems

People who suffer from sleep apnea have a higher risk than others for developing heart disease. “Researchers cannot say for sure whether sleep apnea causes heart disease, but we do know you are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure when you have sleep apnea,”... Read more

Pain Relief for Compression Fractures

A spinal compression fracture is a break in the bone that most commonly affects older people with osteoporosis. It can occur as the result of a traumatic incident, such as a fall, but it can also happen when a person is sitting still. The most apparent symptom... Read more

Keep Children Active

When children are sitting on the couch playing video games or just simply watching television, the children are not being active and not getting exercise. Children not moving could lead to big problems with childhood obesity. The percentage of children who have obesity issues has more than... Read more

Transport Team Brings Sick Newborns to Level III NICU

Saint Francis Medical Center’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is known for its expertise. About half of the sick infants who receive care there are transported from other hospitals. “When babies are born with difficulty breathing or brain injuries, staff at hospitals know we have... Read more