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Enhancing the Safety Net

Polk County Approves $4 Million for Indigent Health Care by PAUL CATALA It’s funding that’s being called a local healthcare “safety net” for the underinsured and uninsured in Polk County. In November, Polk County Commissioners unanimously approved more than $4 million in funding for primary care, dental services and behavioral health services for Indigent Healthcare Services.…
The Battle Within the Battle

Cancer Drugs Caused Weight Gain, but Bariatric Surgery Restored Her Health by TERESA SCHIFFER Rhonda Smith is feeling great these days. She’s in great health, eating right, getting regular exercise, and savoring life in a new way after an arduous battle. In 2005, at the age of 27, Smith visited her doctor because she was…
Striking a Balance

Fitness Center Is Helping Women Get On- and Stay On – the Road to Good Health by PAUL CATALAphotos provided by THE BALANCE CULTURE The temptation and indulgence of the holidays are enough to make even the most enthusiastic fitness buffs take a few weeks off. New Year’s resolutions are often cited for driving gym…

There’s more than meets the (red) eye

by Anisa Patail, O.D. February is here, and Valentine’s Day is around the corner! We see red hearts everywhere as a sign for the holiday, but let’s talk about what red eyes are a sign for. There are several conditions that can cause this very common finding. Depending on the symptoms you’re experiencing, and the…
Treatment Options for Deep Venous Thrombosis

For a long time, treatment of deep venous thrombosis centered on anticoagulation alone. Depending on various factors — including provoked or unprovoked, location and whether new or recurrent episode, chances of causing a fatal pulmonary embolism or previous episodes of pulmonary embolism — the treating physician could decide the duration of the treatment from three…
Dry Eye Disease Not So Cut and Dry

by Julia King, O.D. Dry eye disease, or dry eye syndrome, is a condition that affects millions of people. Unfortunately, it often goes undiagnosed as many people don’t realize that their symptoms are caused by dry eye. Dry eye syndrome occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears, or the tears that are produced…