Health
Narcan is a lifesaving nasal spray designed to reverse opioid overdoses

A spray that saves lives

The opioid crisis continues to wreak havoc in Edgar County and on communities nationwide. Overdose deaths related to opioids have reached alarming levels, with the National Center for Health …
The Colonoscopies were free but the ‘Surgical Trays’ came with $600 price tags

Health care bills causes mistrust

Chantal Panozzo and her husband followed their primary care doctors’ orders last year after they both turned 45, now the recommended age to start screening for colorectal cancer. They scheduled …

Ring in the New Year with health screenings

As we get our footing in 2024, millions of people are now working on their resolutions, with some of the most popular goals centering on starting or improving healthy habits. Each year some of …

Year-round sun safety

Sunburns and skin cancer don’t have an exclusive partnership with hot months at the beach. Ultraviolet (UV) rays are still present, even in the middle of winter. Karen Boyd, an oncology …
A new ultrasound tool may get Alzheimer’s drugs into the brain faster

Taking aim at the Alzheimer’s brain

Scientists have found a way to help Alzheimer’s drugs seep inside the brain faster — by temporarily breaching its protective shield. The novel experiment was a first attempt in just …
A British-born campaign forces Americans to look at alcohol consumption

Dry January promotes alcohol avoidance

COVID prompted the biggest spike in alcohol consumption seen in 50 years. The uptick in sales is great news for those in the beverage industry, however, the illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths on …

Pharmacy Clawbacks

The Biden administration’s first major step toward imposing limits on the pharmacy benefit managers who act as the drug industry’s price negotiators is backfiring. Instead of helping …

Horizon Health’s Jasper Street Annex reintroduced to community

Horizon Health celebrated the start of a new chapter on Tuesday, Nov. 14, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at its new Jasper Street Annex in Paris. The building, previously a Dollar …

Horizon Health offers free CPR/AED class

Horizon Health is offering a free Heartsaver CPR/AED course 1-4 p.m. Dec. 5, from at the Education Center, 15197 US Highway 150, Paris. This course designed for people without medical training …

COVID cases spike in Edgar County and across Illinois

COVID-19 is rearing its ugly head once again in Edgar County. While the virus’ grip on society has loosened since the pandemic, it is still a threat, especially considering recent findings from …

Horizon Health adds provider to Sycamore Pain & Wellness

Sycamore Pain & Wellness, a service of Horizon Health, continues to expand its services, adding a second primary care provider at its Terre Haute, Ind., location. Terre Haute native Jessica …

Health department nearly fully staffed, moving ahead

 An upbeat Monica Dunn delivered several pieces of positive news to the Edgar County Department of Public Health board. “We are almost fully staffed,” Dunn said during the …

Horizon Health and IU partner for surgery experience

Horizon Health is providing Indiana University medical students with valuable, hands-on surgical experience they normally would not get until later in their careers. Jeff Bollenbacher, …

Family meal hacks are budget friendly

URBANA — Family time is precious. It takes time to plan, shop and prepare meals so let U of I Extension remove some of the stress from the feeding the family equation. Illinois Extension …

Season change brings a reminder to vaccinate

The Edgar County Public Health Department (ECPHD) is getting ready to extend its nursing hours thanks to the hiring of two new nurses. “We finally filled all of our nursing positions and …

Fuqua joins family practice team at Paris Clinic

When Kelsey Fuqua began her career at Horizon Health nearly 10 years ago, she knew she wanted to stay local and help improve community health. She became a family nurse practitioner in 2021 and …

Health care is more than doctors and medicine

Health care is a complex issue. That complexity goes beyond the science involved and attempting to decipher medical jargon. “Only 20% of health is about health care and access,” said …

Talking away the darkness of suicide

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the Unit- ed States. The impact of a suicide reaches far and wide, affecting co-workers, friends, family members first responders and the community at large. …

ROSC picnic celebrates recovery from addiction, honors the hard work needed

Recovery from addiction is a long process and frequently there is little recognition of a person’s achievements in that journey. One purpose of the Edgar County Recovery Oriented System of …

Smiles are returning to Edgar County

The Edgar County Public Health Department (ECPHD) has been without a dentist for two long years, after searching high and low the position will be filed before the end of the year. “I have …
Private therapy practice opens in Paris

A focus on the family

After several years of working in the mental health field, Heather Melton has opened a private therapy practice where she can pursue her passion for helping people. “I view therapy as an …

Paris native joins Horizon Health rehab team

Paris native Jenna Lawson has returned home to join the physical therapy team at Horizon Health. Lawson earned her doctor of physical therapy degree at Indiana State University with a …

Horizon Health awards healthcare scholarships

Horizon Health and the Horizon Health Foundation have announced the 2023 healthcare scholarship recipients. These next generation healthcare heroes were honored at a July 28 luncheon at the hospital. …

Horizon Health donates AEDs to local organizations

The use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) gained national attention last January when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field during a game. An …

Local facilities care for Alzheimer’s Association

On June 21, a day marked as summer solstice, the longest day of the year, the staff and residents at Paris Health & Rehab Center held a balloon release. The release of several purple balloons …

A small bite could have a big effect

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) issued a statement to remind residents of infected animals and potential cases of rabies from bats in the late summer months. “Rabies is a …

Health Department reviews emergency action

The Edgar County Department of Public Health (ECDPH) provided a vital emergency service in the aftermath of the June 29 derecho causing extensive damage and leaving much of the county without …

Paris Woman has improved life after Horizon Health bariatric surgery

Today it’s horseback riding. Tomorrow it’s snorkeling. What will the next day bring for Jessica Woolum, of Paris? Woolum embarked on an aggressive weight loss journey in late 2022 …

Health department seeks moral support from the county board

Edward Rico, president of the Edgar County Public Health Department board, and fellow board member Scott Ingrum say the health department needs better backing from the Edgar County Board. They …

From kitchen to heart

A unique blend of heart-health  conscious cooking and heart-warming care blended together June 14 as a class from Horizon Health’s Cardiopulmonary Rehab Program took place. …

Starting to blossom

To tend to a plant is a trying process. Gardening tests one’s patience and demands careful observation and care. Even under ideal conditions, a plant can wilt or falter if its demands are not …

Chaney receives professional award

The Illinois Society of Healthcare Risk Management (ISHRM) has named Eunice Chaney of Horizon Health as its Risk Manager of the Year. The announcement was made at ISHRM’s annual …

All smiles (almost) for ECPHD

Edgar County Public Health Department (ECPHD) board members are keeping their fingers crossed. Department administrator Monica Dunn expressed positive feelings about her meeting with a candidate …

Red Cross needs Edgar County volunteers

Planning for emergencies means trying to anticipate every contingency, but the best plans cannot function without people to do the work. The American Red Cross needs volunteers in Edgar County. …

County money helps HRC

An additional $85,800 the Edgar County Board provided to the Human Resources Center of Edgar and Clark Counties is paying dividends. Jonathan Burns, HRC executive director, reported on how the …
Bee Well looks at food forest option for community garden

Branching out

CHARLESTON — Members of the Bee Well of Edgar County coalition and other interested local citizens took a field trip to look at a different type of community garden. Bee Well organized in …

AeroGen-TEK donation benefits cancer patients at Horizon Health

Community minded employees at AeroGen-TEK are helping chemotherapy patients at the Horizon Health Infusion Clinic. The company presented a $300 gift to the Horizon Health Foundation May 10 to …

Horizon Health memory garden rededicated

Choices dedicates room to long-time volunteer

Celebrate families exceeds expectations

ECHD event a success

Celebrate Families sponsored by the Edgar County Public Health Department was a runaway success filled with three hours of fun, giveaways, snacks, free dental exams, live demonstration and community …

Health department optimistic about finding a dentist

 After a long and frustrating search for a dentist at the Edgar County Public Health Department, there is a spark of hope. “I have been talking to a dentist who is interested in our …

Horizon is bringing healthcare home

On Thursday, May 4, Harriett Ramsey recorded her blood pressure, her weight and received one-on-one medical consultation from a registered nurse. This is all standard procedure for a trip to the …

Eating right combats depression, anxiety

Horizon Health’s Employee Wellness Coordinator Julee Dennis has been working hand-in-hand with registered dietitians Madison Easton, Eva Kirchner and the behavioral health department looking at …

Celebrate Families Event

Smiles on wheels

Monica Dunn, administrator of the Edgar County Department of Public Health (ECPHD), applied her passion for community when she wrote a Blue Cross and Blue Shield Wellness Can’t Wait Campaign …

Bee Well garden ready to grow

After several years of on-and-off starts, the Bee Well Community Garden is ready to relaunch for this growing season. “We just need to get something in the ground to build …

Health department hard-pressed to find dentist

The Edgar County Public Health Department (ECPHD) has a dental program, but not a dentist. And it has been that way for a long time. ECPHD administrator Monica Dunn raised the issue during the …

Horizon Health offers EMT-B certification

Horizon Health is now accepting registration for an upcoming EMT-Basic certification course. The 18-week course takes place 5-9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays beginning Sept. 25. Classes are taught …

NHC Volunteer Week celebrated

National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 to recognize and celebrate the efforts of volunteers across the country. It is a time to honor and thank hospital volunteers for their commitment …
Video counseling fills need for rural nursing homes

Bridging the health gaps

KNOXVILLE, Iowa ― Bette Helm was glad to have someone to talk with about her insomnia. Helm lives in a nursing home in this central Iowa town of about 7,500 people, where mental health …