Murray, Kentucky. He completed a residency in Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and an internship in general surgery at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Lackland AFB, Texas. He earned his medical degree from the Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans.

While he has worked in more extensive trauma settings in the past, Lorenz said he prefers a smaller clinic’s connection. He enjoys all aspects of ear, nose, and throat care, emphasizing sinus disorders, middle ear diseases, thyroid surgery, and pediatric ENT cases, and has also treated inhalant allergy patients for more than 25 years. He also specializes in performing facial plastic surgery with

January 8, 2021

Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) Specialist Dr. Frederick Lorenz joins Ozarks Healthcare

Frederick Lorenz, MD, Board-Certified Otolaryngologist, recently joined the multi-disciplinary Ozarks Healthcare Medical Group. Dr. Lorenz brings over 25 years of clinical experience to Ozarks Healthcare Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT).

Dr. Frederick Lorenz is a board-certified otolaryngologist. An otolaryngologist is a physician that specializes in the treatment and management of diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and related bodily structures. They are often referred to as ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physicians and treat patients through medical and surgical means.

Dr. Lorenz previously worked at the Murray Calloway County Hospital in

an emphasis on removing skin lesions, including malignancies and repair, and reconstruction following facial fractures and soft tissue injuries of the face, head, and neck.

“We are thrilled to welcome such an experienced and esteemed ENT Physician as Dr. Lorenz as the newest member of the Ozarks Healthcare Medical Group,” says Antony Joseph, M.D. and President of the Ozarks Healthcare Medical Group. “We will continue to expand Ozarks Healthcare’s specialty clinics to serve the needs of the area residents and continue to be the healthcare provider of choice in the Ozarks.”

Ozarks Healthcare Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) is located within Ozarks Healthcare General Surgery, located at 2600 Independence Square, West Plains. Dr. Lorenz sees patients by referral Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please call 417-256-1774 for more information.

Ozarks Healthcare is a system of care encompassing eight primary care and 17 specialty clinics, along with complete rehabilitation, behavioral healthcare, and home health services. While the 114-bed acute care hospital cares for more than 5,400 admissions, the entire health system has more than 364,000 patient visits annually in South Central Missouri and Northern Arkansas. For more information about Ozarks Healthcare, visit www.OzarksHealthcare.com.

Ozarks Healthcare ended 2020 and welcomed 2021 while marking three milestone births at the medical system: its last birth in its former OB Department, the first birth in its new

Women’s Center, and its first birth of 2021.

Braelynn Reese was the last baby to be born in the medical system’s former OB Department at 12:12 a.m. Dec. 28, 2020. Her parents are Billy Reese and Dametria Edwards.

The OB Department is currently being converted into Ozarks Healthcare’s new COVID Care Unit (CCU), following the opening of the medical system’s new Women’s Center, said officials. The center includes 20,000 square feet of modern labor and delivery rooms, gynecological surgery facilities and educational spaces. The facility is the first portion of the most significant expansion in the medical center’s history to be completed and is now open to patients, officials added.

Marking the first birth in Ozarks Healthcare’s Women’s Center, Kash Smith made his entrance into the world at 3:17 a.m. Dec. 30. Kash’s parents are Harley and Alex Smith.

“The last few days have been especially meaningful to our staff as history at Ozarks Healthcare was made with these births,” said Women’s Center Manager

Tonya Aaron. “Thousands of newborns have been brought into the world at Ozarks Healthcare, and we are excited to welcome even more as we open our new Women’s Center and enter 2021.”

The medical system welcomed its first baby of 2021 at 6:45 p.m. on New Year’s Day. Barrett Waggoner was delivered by Dr. Brian Israel of the Women’s Health Center. Barrett’s parents are Brandon and Ashlyn Waggoner.

“Being able to welcome a newborn on New Year’s Day is always a special moment,” Israel said. “Barrett’s entrance to the world was symbolic of the new beginnings we anticipate in 2021.”

All three babies received a wagon, car seat, car shade, book, diaper bag and other gifts, courtesy of Ozarks Healthcare.

About 600 newborns are born at Ozarks Healthcare each year, said officials. For more information about obstetrical care and delivery services offered through Ozarks Healthcare’s Women’s Center, visit www.ozarkshealthcare.com/services/womens.

Ozarks Healthcare celebrates milestone

births

Barrett Waggoner, with his parents, Brandon and Ashlyn Waggoner, was the first baby to be born at Ozarks Healthcare in 2021. He was delivered by Dr. Brian Israel, left, of Ozarks Healthcare Women’s Health on New Year’s Day. With them is nurse Brianne Stinger.

Do you have questions about COVID-19 vaccines? A panel of Ozarks Healthcare physicians and professionals will answer commonly asked questions surrounding COVID-19 vaccines this Friday, January 8, at 3 p.m. (CT) via Facebook Live. For more event information, visit Ozarks Healthcare’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OzarksHealthcare.

Facebook Live: COVID-19 Vaccine Q&A

Have you recovered from COVID-19? Local patients could use your help. Donations of COVID-19 convalescent plasma through the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO) may help local hospital patients fighting COVID-19. The CBCO is the exclusive provider of blood, platelets, and plasma to hospitals in northwest Arkansas, southeast Kansas, and southwest Missouri, including Ozarks Healthcare. Call 800-280-5337 for more information.

Enjoy exercise? You are less likely to be exposed to COVID-19 doing outdoor activities. Try these tips to take your exercise routines outdoors:• Run, walk, or bike at a park.• Hike on local trails.• Take your dog for a walk around the neighborhood.• Participate in an outdoor yoga class.• Work in the garden.More tips for participating in activities: https://bit.ly/3mKHutV.

Vaccine recipients extended beyond the medical system’s base in West Plains. Recipients included frontline workers from Willow Springs, Cabool, Alton, Thayer, Mountain View, Mountain Grove, Caulfield, Tecumseh, Alton, Eminence, Myrtle, Brandsville, Birch Tree, Pottersville, Vanzant, Rogersville, Springfield, Drury and Branson. Some Arkansas recipients included those from Ash Flat, Salem, Gamaliel, and Mammoth Spring.

Once regulations change, Ozarks Healthcare will be permitted to administer the vaccine in additional phases as dictated by the state of Missouri. Once Ozarks Healthcare is permitted to open vaccinations to the public, more information will be provided.

For updates regarding COVID-19 vaccinations, visit https://www.ozarkshealthcare.com/.

Ozarks Healthcare, said her family, friends, and community were her “whys” behind her decision to receive the vaccine.

“I can only do so much to help in this pandemic, but I can do this,” Erasmus said.

While government regulations are still in place for vaccine administration, Ozarks Healthcare was able to provide some of its doses to other emergency and healthcare personnel outside of its immediate community, including over 40 employees at Texas County Memorial Hospital, South Howell County Ambulance (Ozarks Healthcare’s primary field EMS service) emergency technicians, Ozarks Family Care employees, Burton Creek Rural Clinic employees, and other organizations who provide health services in southern Missouri.

Demand for COVID-19 convalescent

plasma still high in the Ozarks

Brandi Erasmus, RN at Ozarks Healthcare, receives her first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination and proudly displays her “whys” for choosing to be vaccinated.

Ozarks Healthcare completes First

Round of COVID-19 Vaccinations to

Frontline Workers

Just before the start of a new year, Ozarks Healthcare completed its first round of administrations of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination to frontline healthcare workers. Ozarks Healthcare employees who volunteered to receive the vaccine included physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, environmental services staff, and others.

“We are proud to have administered our first 400 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine before the beginning of 2021,” Tom Keller, Ozarks Healthcare President and CEO, said. “While we realize this is only aa step in our battle against this virus, we believe this vaccine is another tool that can help us care for the needs of our community as we look toward a new year.”

Several Ozarks Healthcare coworkers took to social media to publicly share their reasons for vaccinating as a part of the organization’s #ShareYourWhy campaign. Brandi Erasmus, RN at

“Loving God and faithful Friend, today and all this week, I pray that You will help me to know Your goodness and desire for me to live a joy filled life with purpose. I pray that goals that I have or will set for this New Year will be goals that are guided by You. Help me to determine to pay off my debts that I have acquired, to finish that project I started, to make new friends and show love to my old friends. Help me to love more deeply my family, help me to be productive at work, help me Lord to be faithful to my commitments, and help me Lord to grow in Your ways and love. I pray that this year will indeed be a year of personal growth and positive change in my life as I share my time and talents with others. Lord - I give You praise and glory and thank you for loving me. In Your Holy Name I pray, Amen.

- Weekly prayer brought to you by the Ozarks Healthcare Chaplains

Service available 24/7 by calling 417-293-4731 Monday through Friday from 6 - 10 a.m. or Security at 417-293-8430.

Shuttle

Weekly Prayer

Be sure to check your NetLearning to make sure you are up-to-date.

The café will now be open from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. with hot meals available until 9:00 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with hot food available until 1 p.m. Visitors will also be allowed to carry out meals. No cash is accepted. Only credit card and payroll deduct is accepted.Beginning January 6, Happy Hour will be held every Wednesday from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. We will have a specialty snack and drinks available.

Braised Beef Tips, Roasted Red Potatoes, Broccoli, Crispitos, Chips and Queso, Chili, Chocolate Lava Cake

Cook’s Choice;Breakfast options: Eggs, bacon, biscuits & gravy, sausage (Offered Daily).

Sweet and Sour Chicken, Vegetable Lomein, Eggroll, Cheese Burger, Fries, Chicken Corn Chowder, Apple Crisp

Chicken Parmesean, Penne Pasta with Sauce, Broccoli, Cheese Burger, Fries, Potato Soup, Fruit Cobbler

Turkey with Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Cornbread Stuffing, Chicken Tenders, Chef ’s Choice Soup, Pineapple and Strawberry Cake

Breaded Baked Fish, Cauliflower, Roasted Root Vegetables, Pepperoni Pizza, Cheese Pizza, Chef ’s Choice Soup, Bread Pudding

Monday, January 11

Sunday, January 10

Saturday, January 16

Tuesday, January 12

Wednesday, January 13

Thursday, January 14

Friday, January 15

Education

Cafeteria MenuHUDDLE UP

Please Note!

All employees need to go into Paystubs in the next two weeks and verify your information is correct before W-2s go out.

Please check:• the spelling of your name • the correct address is on file • your social security number is

complete and accurateTo find your SSN:• You will need to go to Myself Tab• Under My Information Click on

Profile• You will see Personal Info – Click on

View More• Scroll Down to Bio and click on the

down arrow• You will see Social Security Number

– You will need to click on Reveal to see the whole Social Security Number.

To help our patients in the cold winter months ahead, we are accepting dona-tions of hats and scarves to be used in the EO, NPU, and other departments. Please drop off items at the Education Center in Parkway.

Cook’s Choice