CoxHealth

In a beautiful and heartfelt moment, Gracie and Paul said, “I do,” in room #226 at Cox Barton County Hospital, surrounded by their closest family and loved ones. With one special person unable to leave the hospital, they decided to bring the wedding celebration to them, creating a space filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable memories.? "We had originally planned to get married next year, but since today is our fourth anniversary, it felt like the perfect time," Gracie said with a smile. "I couldn’t have asked for anything better!"? A family member led the ceremony, and one beloved guest made the trip from Texas: the bride’s aunt, who was thrilled to be part of this special day.? The newlyweds, who live in Lamar, shared that they feel absolutely amazing and overjoyed to celebrate with so many family members. This experience reminded everyone that love isn’t about where you are; it’s about who you’re with.? Congratulations to Paul and Gracie! Cheers to a lifetime of happiness and love!?

After 45 years of dedication to the field of health care, Kim Alexander, clinical coordinator for surgical services, is retiring from CoxHealth. Her career has spanned multiple roles across departments and campuses – from Cox North to Cox South, from orthopedics to surgical services – but one thing has remained constant: her commitment to those around her. “Even on the hardest days, I try to remember why I’m here – it's for the patients and for the people I work with,” says Kim.? Kim began her career at CoxHealth as a nursing assistant, providing compassionate care to patients on various floors at Cox North and Cox South. After several years, she transitioned into a physical therapy assistant role, and soon after, she became the department secretary for physical therapy. While in these roles, Kim was simultaneously working toward a nursing degree from Burge School of Nursing. She credits her early experiences in assistant roles with making the transition to a registered nurse seamless. “I thought that transition would be really hard, working from the nursing assistant going to a registered nurse, but it actually really wasn't,” says Kim. “We were a team, and it was always about taking care of the patient.”? After becoming a registered nurse, Kim’s career path eventually led her to the operating room, where she mastered the intricacies of surgical nursing. Over the past few years, she moved into her current role, where she ensures the operating room is fully prepared for successful surgeries. “If I have to do three backflips in order to make sure that the surgeon has what they need to take care of a patient, I'll figure out how to do three backflips,” says Kim. "It’s always been about the patients for me - you have to care about them like they’re your own family." Now, as Kim prepares for retirement, she looks forward to spending more time with her two dogs and revisiting her love for crafting. "Some of my favorite memories are just sitting and talking with patients, helping them feel heard. The people I work with have been like a second family to me. We’ve been through a lot together, and you don’t forget that,” says Kim. "As I retire, I know the thing I will miss the most is the people - the patients and my team." Kim, your hard work, dedication and care for your patients and colleagues have made a lasting impact on CoxHealth. We thank you for your years of service, and we wish you the best as you begin this exciting new chapter in your life. Congratulations on your retirement!

It was the ultimate cooking showdown this morning at Cox South! Sporting the face of long-time colorectal advocate and surgeon (and opponent) Dr. Jose Dominguez, CoxHealth President and CEO Max Buetow, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shawn Usery and Administrative Director of Cardiovascular Services Dr. Curtis Mattson faced off against our colorectal surgery team at the annual C.R.A.P. Pancake ‘Shoot-Out.’ The teams cooked up a variety of pancake types and flavors, letting participants vote for their favorite. All funds raised benefit the Colorectal Awareness Program at the CoxHealth Foundation, which provides free colonoscopies for patients who need but cannot afford this important prevention test. Learn more about the CoxHealth Foundation’s events, services, and more at https://lnkd.in/g55K-wcP?

We’re proud to share that, thanks to generous donations and sponsorships from our community, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals at CoxHealth raised $3,173,850 in 2024! Every dollar stays local, supporting children and families across 32 counties in Missouri and Arkansas with medical expenses, therapy, educational programs, and more. See how you can make a difference: www.coxhealthcmn.com?

It’s a BEAUTIFUL day outside! If you haven’t had a chance to step out, take a break from scrolling and soak in some ?lake ASMR? with us. These peaceful sounds come from Schaible Lake Park, located just behind Hulston Cancer Center.

It’s the last week of February, but there’s still time to support the CoxHealth Foundation's Heroes for Healthy Hearts campaign!? With a $5 heart purchase, you can support local patients and our current cardiology programs through the Wheeler Heart and Vascular Fund. Donate or learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gCzWHnG8

The sign on the Women and Newborn Unit classroom door makes it clear this is no normal week: “Shhhhh! Nurses sleeping … Enter at your own risk,” it reads. On the other side of the door, team members converted the classroom into a makeshift sleeping space so they could be on duty for patients, and off the treacherous roads. “When you go into health care, you know weather events like this are going to happen,” says Meredith Lamberth, a registered nurse who volunteered to stay overnight on the unit at Cox South. Meredith says that while she doesn’t live far away, she was definitely nervous about battling snow-covered roads on Wednesday morning. “I felt much more comfortable staying over,” she says. “It was actually fun – kind of like a sleepover you used to have growing up.” Multiple night shift team members who worked overnight on Monday volunteered to sleep in the classroom following their shift so they could be on deck for Tuesday night. Then, three day shift colleagues stayed overnight Tuesday night to help cover the day shift on Wednesday. Registered nurse Brooke Smith wasn’t scheduled to work on Wednesday, but she knew some of her colleagues wouldn’t be able to make it in. She volunteered to stay on campus to be on duty Wednesday so another colleague wouldn’t have to get out. “I could see on my phone that lots of wrecks were happening,” she says. “It was just safer for me if I stayed off the road. And if I could keep someone else from having to come in, that’s safer for my teammates, too.” Brooke and Meredith joined their?fellow registered nurse, Diana Kelly, in staying over on a set of air mattresses Tuesday night. “We shared stories and talked, and we really bonded a lot. Honestly, we should have gone to bed sooner than we did, but we were having a good time,” Brooke says with a laugh. For the Women and Newborn team, making sure they are available to care for their patients is simply part of their mission. “This is the job - we choose to take care of other people, and our patients truly depend on us while they are in the hospital,” Brooke says. “You want to give your patients the best care, which they deserve,” Meredith adds. “They are already under enough stress having a new baby and being in the middle of a storm. Having our care team here for them is so important. It is just part of your dedication to your patients.”

When a powerful winter storm buried roads in snow and brought daily life to a halt, most were urged to stay home. But for our EMS teams and health care workers, the mission never stopped: to be the best for those who need us. "In EMS, our people don’t shy away from challenges, they thrive in them. When conditions are at their worst, that’s when we step up the most," says Owen Aldridge, communications manager. For 48 straight hours, our EMS teams battled brutal conditions - whiteout snow, freezing temperatures, and impassable roads. Yet they kept going. They pulled vehicles out of ditches, offered stranded drivers a warm place to rest and ensured that staff made it safely to hospitals and clinics. And it wasn’t just EMS. Across our entire health system, hundreds of employees made incredible sacrifices - staying overnight in hospital rooms, braving the storm to get to work and going above and beyond to make sure patient care never faltered. Even our leadership jumped in, using their own vehicles to help transport staff. Our teams helped over 160 employees get to work - all while responding to a flood of emergency calls and aiding stranded motorists along the way. Owen says the last few days have shown that when adversity strikes, our people never back down. They know that every action, every decision and every extra effort makes a difference. That’s the heart of EMS, and that’s the heart of CoxHealth. To every paramedic, EMT, nurse, doctor, administrator, and staff member who worked tirelessly during the storm: thank you. Your dedication, bravery and compassion are what make this health system extraordinary. “This isn’t just a job, it’s a calling. We are able to do this because our people care deeply, embrace the responsibility, and rise to the challenge every time," says Owen.

In times of inclement weather, it often feels like the world comes to a stop. Roads quiet down, schools and businesses close and daily routines grind to a halt. Yet, in health care, our critical service to our communities remains uninterrupted. In the face of a storm, our dedicated employees ensure that care continues, no matter the circumstances. From every corner of our organization, our team has gone above and beyond, showing up for those who depend on them – whether it's patients or fellow colleagues. "We’ve had employees bringing in air mattresses, staying overnight in their offices, and covering shifts they weren’t scheduled for just to support their teams,” says Ashley White, nursing operations manager. “Leaders have stepped out of their leadership positions, and they're transporting patients, delivering linens, and making sure employees feel safe and secure – you can’t say that about a lot of organizations.” It's important to acknowledge that our colleagues are offering more than we could ever ask for in their commitment to patient care. With that in mind, we are equally committed to ensuring that these same individuals have everything they need to stay safe and supported while they’re doing this crucial work. In response to the inclement weather, employees scheduled to work were offered sleeping arrangements on campus. We also provided essential transportation options to and from the campus, hygiene supplies, cafeteria vouchers and more to ensure their comfort and well-being.? We’re proud to share that hundreds of our colleagues graciously stayed on campus, playing an essential role in maintaining the continuity of care. “It’s a team effort to make sure that everyone feels supported during these times,” says Ashley. “When we get into a crisis scenario like this, I think we really shine. I’ve been here for 20 years, and this is why. Every time there's a challenge, we meet it headfirst and pull through.” Through every storm, both literal and figurative, one thing remains abundantly clear: our greatest strength lies in our people.? The tireless commitment, care and unity that they display during times of crisis is what enables us to keep providing exceptional care for both our patients and each other. We cannot thank our teams enough - YOU are the heart of everything we do.?

Here’s a heartwarming story for this cold day!? Alisa Moua, one of our incredibly talented nursing assistants at Cox Monett Hospital, has transformed a pediatric medical-surgical patient room into an underwater wonderland with a stunning hand-painted sea life 3D painting - and it glows in the dark!? This beautiful, calming painting isn’t just art - it's a source of comfort and joy for our young patients, making their hospital stay a little brighter (even in the dark!)? A huge shoutout to Alisa for using her creativity and compassion to make a difference for our patients.?