Working with the community... for a healthier community.

Choosing the Level of Care That Fits

By Leon Yeh, MD, Vice President/Chief Medical Officer, Emergency Services, OSF HealthCare In a world focused on speed, information, and choices, healthcare is responding to patients’ desires for convenient and quick access to care. In addition to emergency rooms for serious symptoms and urgent care facilities that treat minor illnesses and injuries, there’s now a […]

New Brace Means New Lease on Life

By Dave Tompkins A few years ago, Carolyn Stevens was experiencing unbearable pain in her right ankle. It was so severe that she was having difficulty walking and frequently came close to falling. At 73, aches and pains are not uncommon, but Carolyn knew this was different — and she is not your typical senior. […]

A Coach on Wheels On and Off the Court

By John Marchioro What do you get when you mix a passion for teaching and a love for basketball? The answer is the University of Illinois men’s wheelchair basketball coach, Matt Buchi. At the age of 29, Matt is one of the youngest college wheelchair basketball head coaches in the United States. Matt is also […]

The Opioid Epidemic

By Olivia Walker, Health Education Specialist at Hult Center for Healthy Living For years, an epidemic has been sweeping the country. Deaths have been increasing in nearly every county in the United States, reaching a rate of 47,055 in 2014, a number approaching the death rate caused by the HIV epidemic at its peak. But […]

Courtyard Estates of Peoria Provides Independence

By Lori Lovely Americans hold their independence dear every day, not just on July 4, when we gather with friends and family to go on picnics and watch fireworks. We cherish freedom and independence throughout our lives. The independence so often taken for granted when we are young can be taken from us when we […]

Depression and Suicidality

By Luke Dalfiume, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Co-Owner, John R. Day & Associates, Christian Psychological Associates Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. Each year about 6.7 percent of U.S adults experience major depressive disorder. Women are 70 percent more likely than men to experience depression during […]

Test Your Home’s Drinking Water

Information from epa.gov Testing your home’s drinking water is the only way to confirm if lead is present. Most water systems test for lead at a certain number of homes as a regular part of water monitoring. These tests give a system-wide picture of whether or not corrosion is being controlled, but do not reflect […]

New Baby? How to Prepare Your Pet Part I

By Lauren Malmberg, Peoria County Animal Protection Services Congratulations, you’re expecting a new baby! What a happy time for you and your family. And, it can be a happy time for your pet as well, if you make arrangements and adjustments before the new addition actually arrives. Many pet owners make a smooth transition from […]

Seven Things Parents Say That Can Cause Eating Issues

By Michelle May, MD As parents, we sometimes forget that we are raising adults, not children. Our goal is to provide them with the skills and increasing responsibility for managing their lives without our constant vigilance. One key lifeskill is the ability to navigate our abundant food environment while maintaining optimal health. Here are seven […]

Protect Your Ears and Enjoy Your Summer!

Submitted by the Audiologists at Midwest Hearing Center After a long, cold winter, many people look forward to the warmer weather of summer. For most of us, summertime signifies a multitude of fun outdoor activities. Among the most popular summer activities for people of all ages are swimming and water sports. For people with certain […]