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More Than Medicine

Watson Clinic Urgent Care Treating Body and Mind in Trying Times by TERESA SCHIFFER As the world reels from the devastating effects of COVID-19, people are realizing the value of employees in essential industries, such as grocery store workers, delivery services, and especially healthcare professionals. Those in the medical field are facing a crisis like…
Feeling Proud and Valued

Lakeland Regional Health Personnel Rise to the Challenge by PAUL CATALA Since the first case of coronavirus was detected in Florida, Anita Henry, supply director at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center (LRH), has been working around the clock to purchase personal protective equipment. LRH Population Health Coordinator Paul Needham has been working closely with skilled…
Surviving COVID-19: One Man’s Story of Gratitude

Auburndale’s Keith Johnson Talks About His Journey and the Healthcare Workers Who Saved His Life by MARY TOOTHMAN Amid the confusion, sadness, and fear that COVID-19 has brought, an Auburndale man is calmly and gratefully sharing his story of recovery with others to praise and give thanks to the healthcare workers who fought fiercely for…

Editor’s Dose: Tips for minimizing back-to-school stress

IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, then come early July you were already thinking about preparations for the new school year. Parents and children in the community this year are getting ready extra early because Polk County public schools moved up their calendar by one week — day one of school is August 15.
Making the choice to breastfeed

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH in Polk County (DOH-Polk) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) recognize August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month. This is a wonderful time of year to promote breastfeeding as a vital health activity and discuss the health benefits breastfeeding provides. Although every woman has their own…
Editor’s Dose: Keeping kids’ bodies and minds active this summer

WHEN I FIRST had the twins, my mom would say, “Have a schedule for them, or they’ll have a schedule for you.” Basically, she was cautioning that I’d better keep those little minds and bodies active, or chaos would inevitably ensue. Being a mother of eight children, I think she was speaking from personal experience.…