Blog

6 Diabetes Myths Busted for Good

There are 30 million people in the United States living with diabetes, but one in four do not even know they are living with this condition. In addition to those millions, another 84 million adults, teenagers and children have prediabetes, but 90% are unaware. These numbers show the need to bring awareness to diabetes and clear up any myths that surround this condition.

Discover the truth about diabetes below and share with your friends and family.

What is diabetes? Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how your body reacts to the sugar in your broken down... Read More »

Breastfeeding: The Joyful Ups and Frustrating Downs

Breastfeeding can be a great experience for both mom and baby, but that doesn’t mean it’s not hard work that comes with a set of big difficulties.

If you are a new mom or a mom with several children, you probably already know how up and down, complicated and wonderful parenthood can be. Breastfeeding also has its own highs and struggles. Here are some of both the ups and downs of breastfeeding and how to find support.

The Up: Your Baby Always Gets a Perfect Meal

Your body creates the perfect food for your baby to be able to develop during those early... Read More »

Lifesaving Habits for Child Car Safety

Every year, children around the country are put in dangerous situations when they are left inside a vehicle. An average of 38 children die from heat related illnesses after being left inside a vehicle every year. This is usually due to adults forgetting their child, children finding their own way into a car or children being intentionally left in the car. It may seem like forgetting a child in the car is impossible, but no one is perfect. Getting distracted, switching up a routine or going into autopilot can happen to anyone. It’s normal for those things to happen and it’s only human to... Read More »

Sun Protection for Infants

Sun-safe babies are happy babies! Unlike adult skin, baby skin is lighter and much more sensitive, which is why it is so important for parents to protect their baby’s skin from the sun. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends keeping babies out of direct sun for the first six months. Failure to protect an infant’s skin can lead to a sunburn, which can quickly turn into a medical emergency from blisters, fever, infection and dehydration. It can also increase your child’s risk of developing skin cancer later on in life. Here’s what you can do to protect your child’s skin:

Cover up... Read More »

How to Get Your Best Sleep While Traveling

Having the opportunity to travel is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but for individuals who have sleep issues it can be difficult. We sleep differently when we are away from home, usually skipping the first REM (rapid eye movement) episode, having a less deep sleep and waking up more often than we would at home.

If you have upcoming travel plans, keep these recommendations from the sleep technicians at the Sleep Center at Bailey Medical Center in mind.

Stick to your normal routine.

- The human body craves regularity. Try to go to bed at the same time every night and... Read More »

Get to Know Nurse Practitioner Ruby Thomas

Long-time Hillcrest employee Ruby Thomas, APRN-CNP, is a key player in the bariatric program at Bailey Medical Center. Thomas is giving us an in-depth look into her nursing career and what she enjoys most about working at Bailey.

Why did I become a nurse?

I became a nurse because of my passion to be a part of the healing process. I believe that nursing is simply to give tender loving care while applying it to the everyday concept of medical care. I became a nurse to help others feel better and hopefully make a difference in someone's life by always trying to be... Read More »

Nurse Practitioner Makes Personal and Professional Strides at Bailey

Tracy Foster, nurse practitioner at Bailey Medical Center, has been working as a nurse for more than 28 years. Throughout her career, she has held numerous positions, with her current role at The Center for Bariatrics having the most profound impact on her.

Prior to working within the Hillcrest system, Foster worked in homecare and hospice. She later became the program director for Bailey Bariatrics while the program was still fairly new.

After eight years, Foster decided to pursue her master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner and worked at Bailey and Hillcrest Claremore... Read More »

Highlighting the Importance of Sleep Hygiene

National Sleep Awareness Week is March 11-17, the National Sleep Foundation’s annual event promoting sleep health. A decent night of rest is essential for feeling rested and refreshed. Achieving a great sleep starts with setting yourself up for success through proper sleep hygiene. We spoke with Deborah Haring, sleep technician at the Sleep Center at Bailey Medical Center, about sleep hygiene and how you can create an environment conducive to sleep.

“Sleep hygiene can greatly improve an individual’s sleep patterns,” stated Haring. “An environment that is dark, cool and quiet is the... Read More »