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Growing Together

Lakeland Officials Say Orlando Health Watson Clinic Hospital Partnership Signals Promising Future by PAUL CATALA It’s a collaboration bringing together one of Central Florida’s most renowned and respected hospitals and top physician-led practices to offer specialized care. Watson Clinic, which opened as Watson Health in 1941, is a multispecialty community clinic with comprehensive primary and…
Rhythm & Resilience

Senior Pair Stays Active and Connected Through Dance by RYAN MILEJCZAKphotos by JESS McDONALD Staying active physically, mentally, and socially can be a challenge for anybody, and even more so for seniors. But for Bartow’s Cynthia Aycock, 65, and Polk City’s Doug Wright, 69, the solution was simple: dance. “I grew up dancing, and my…
Care in the Golden Years

From Assisted Living to Nursing Homes, Finding the Right Fit Is Key by MAGGIE THARP At some time or another, many seniors will reach a point where living on their own isn’t the best choice for their health or happiness. But when seniors and families realize this, it’s not always easy to make the transition…

Editor’s Dose: A thank-you letter to nurses

FROM MID-FEBRUARY to about mid-April, my family was at the doctor’s office a lot. The late-spreading flu season (although none of us in our household ever actually caught the flu — thank goodness) must have carried with it many other viruses, because we’ve certainly experienced our fair share. In fact, a few nurses on staff…
Healthy Skin: May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month

“C’MON, DOC. What’s a little sunburn?” is a question I frequently hear from the public. The answer is, if you’re lucky, that’s all it is. But a little sunburn is one of the easiest skin cancer risk factors to avoid. If left untreated, skin cancer, or melanoma, can progress to the point that it’s disfiguring…
Cautions for two of your favorite summer activities

SPRING IS THE TIME OF YEAR in Florida when temperatures begin to warm and the weather is perfect outside. With the sun shining and a gentle breeze blowing, this beautiful weather also marks the beginning of swimming season for Polk’s residents. Swimming and boating are two of the most popular summer activities for people living…