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Pop Quiz! Kiss Chapped Lips Goodbye This Winter

The winter season is brutal on our lips, no matter where in the country we live. While the Sunshine State does not see the cold and snow of the states to the north, it does get colder and much drier than other times of year; both are bad news for your lips. Add in travel,…
Adapting to Changing Needs

Florida Southern College Adds Nursing Master’s Program in Mental Health by REBEKAH PIERCE Florida Southern College is flipping the script and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. With mental health problems becoming more prevalent (a report in JAMA Health Forum noted that 38% more people are receiving mental health treatment now than in 2020), it’s…
Future-Proofing Health Care

Area Facilities Using Strategic Recruitment and Retention Tactics to Head Off Shortages by REBEKAH PIERCE In a world where many workers are deemed “essential,” healthcare workers stand out as pillars of our communities — perhaps the most essential of all. Yet, despite soaring demand, the healthcare industry faces a significant and growing shortage of professionals.…

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…