Blog—February 5, 2025---9-10---Working on Wellness Wednesday

  Diverse Medical Show this morning---Mick Gibbs—CEO of Avera Heart Hospital took us thru Avera’s Plant Heart Screenings on 69th---and they have improve accessibility since it opened last summer in 2024.

  Avera has virtually always been known for amazing clinical services when someone needed heart or vascular care. CEO Gibbs shared that there Avera Planet Heart screening is like the “dashboard on your car”. 

  During the screening, your body’s check-engine light may appear---Mick shared that their new location is helping more people distinguish between what’s urgent and what’s not an immediate concern. Accessibility he says is all important in health care and the Sioux Falls retail location for screenings at West 69th has  made a significant difference. The have a convenience of a retail location in a partnership with Avera Home Medical Equipment in the space next to them. 

   As he said-“if we can help people identify cardiovascular and thoracic risk before there’s a problem, that’s a huge win for the patient as well as their family. The estimate is that Avera screens between 4 and 5000 people across 26 Planet Heart locations in South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska. 

   The cost? $125 for heart, vascular and thoracic screenings should be something most anyone can afford. Avera even sells gift certificates. As Gibbs shared—it is a wonderful way for someone to say to their loved one, “You’re my entire world, and I want you to around for the future.”

    As you might gather and we heard---Planet Heart is designed to find cardiovascular disease risk, stroke risk, and more. 

   We turned the page for our second segment----it is National School Counseling Week---joining us was Amanda Bender, Elementary School Counselor, and South Dakota School counselor Association President Elect as well as South Dakota School Counselor. 

    The second guest—is Kari Lena-Helling Flandreau MS/HS School Counselor, South Dakota School Counselor Association Public Relations Chair.  Ironically she asked if we could do this interview—to share many of the concerns Counselors have with what Lawmakers are looking at in Pierre. Kari is one of my granddaughters and is always keeping kids and families in mind. They are taking a little heat from HB1201—from the South Dakota Legislature—that seems oblivious to the impacts it will have on the safety of the students, schools and communities.

    Having just visited this morning with 2 leaders in the House---who said they get tired of people questioning what they are doing. To me when we are talking suicide of students—harming themselves---that with all the constituents House and Senate members visit with---they could spend a little time learning from what is happening in the schools. And yes it isn’t always a life or death matter---but one death would be too many because lawmakers didn’t want to hear what leading counselors in South Dakota are hearing. 

    Dr Joshua Jorde---joined us for his monthly show(s). We talked about Dr. Reinecke –long-time friend and guest on our It’s YOUR Business—Wellness Show. He will be planning to retire May 1st---and we are proposing to have him on the air with us on February 26th. 

    Dr. Jorde reflected on some of the things they do at the clinic that make them unique. One of the main things that patients tell them is they’ve never encountered before is manual muscle testing. Or sometimes they get patients who have moved to Sioux Falls and are glad to find out that is available thru Dr. Jorde. 

    On every visit the test the nerve roots of the lower neck and of the low back directly by testing the muscle that are innervated principally by those nerve roots. They also do several indirect muscle tests of the neck, shoulders, knees, and hips. 

    We talked about those needing help from new born to those a little long in the tooth. 

    You’ll want to listen to the interview—and learn more---and it will give you an option to find out what really is hurting. 

    Mary Michaels---AARP was with us this week to talk about the trip to the Legislature. They brought up a number of topics that need a push---how they continue to work to help the young and old from health care to taxes. Mary is good at what she does—and we appreciate what she does. 

    Our Working on Wellness Wednesday—talked to the State Health Director(s), City Health Director(s) and those health care partners that want to talk about proudly what they do—and why it is important. 

    Lisen live to the show at 1320, 105.1, 107.9---use the KELO App—Streaming on line or just ask Alexa. 

    Norm Anderson will post the Podcast---and this blog is written to help you understand some of the content that is in the show.

    Questions for me---feel free to call-text at 605-728-BILL (2455) we are always here to help.