APPOINTMENTS

Neurologist

NORMAL -- BroMenn Physicians Management Corporation has opened BroMenn Neurology Associates in the BroMenn Medical Office Building, Normal.

Joining the new practice is Dr. Sajjad Mueed, a neurologist most recently of Natchez, Miss. Mueed completed his neurology residency at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, where he also completed fellowships in epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology and in stroke and cerebrovascular disease.

Mueed is board-certified in neurology, clinical neurophysiology, sleep medicine, vascular neurology and electrodiagnostic medicine. His clinical skills include management of adult neurology, epilepsy, sleep patients, and treatment of acute and chronic stroke patients. His diagnostic and intervention skills include Vagus Nerve Stimulator management for epilepsy, EMG and Nerve Conduction Studies, EEG monitoring and Sphenoidal Electrode Insertion, Sleep Studies and Evoked Potentials.

HealthPoint

NORMAL -- Dr. Kenneth Schmidt of Lincoln has joined the medical staff at HealthPoint Urgent Care and Occupational Medicine in Normal.

Schmidt comes to HealthPoint as a family physician with more than 17 years of private practice in Mount Pulaski. He cared for people of all ages and had a special interest in treating patients with urgent and chronic conditions. He previously worked in urgent care at St. Mary's Hospital and at Decatur Memorial Hospital, both in Decatur.

He received his medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield. Schmidt performed his family practice residency in the SIU Decatur Family Practice Residency Program.

Audiologist

BLOOMINGTON -- Bloomington-Normal Audiology, 1404 Eastland Drive, Bloomington, has added Arica Rock to its staff of audiologists.

Rock earned her bachelor's degree in communicative disorders from Eastern Illinois University and her master's degree in audiology from Illinois State University. Before joining Bloomington-Normal Audiology, she had audiology positions in ear nose and throat physicians' offices and in a hospital audiology clinic.

Rock is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and Illinois Academy of Audiology. She has a certificate of Clinical Competency in Audiology from the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association and is licensed to practice audiology by the State of Illinois.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Cardiac calcium

BLOOMINGTON -- OSF St. Joseph Medical Center is offering Cardiac Calcium Scoring. Calcium scoring is a non-invasive study that costs $150 and measures the buildup of calcium in the walls of the arteries of the heart.

Calcium deposits correlate to the amount of coronary plaque and to the risk of future coronary disease. Deposits usually begin to form years before any symptoms develop, but early detection and modification of risk factors -- such as smoking and cholesterol intake -- can slow the progress of coronary artery disease.

The exam takes one hour and upon completion, results will be interpreted by a cardiologist and a written report mailed to the patient's home. Patients are recommended to discuss their results with their physician. Tests are performed 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday on the new 64-slice VCT Scanner, located in the hospital's Center for Advanced Medicine. More information is at (309) 661-5170.

Senior Fair

BLOOMINGTON -- OSF HealthPlans and OSF St. Joseph Medical Center is hosting a Senior Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in the hospital's Center for Advanced Medicine.

The fair will include free tests and screenings, including blood pressure, blood glucose, joint screening, balance testing, body fat and vision screening. A variety of vendors will have information about senior issues and services. More information is at (309) 661-5151.

Health clinic

NORMAL -- Community Health Care Clinic, 902 N. Franklin Ave., has been awarded a $50,000 grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois for the clinic's success in expanding access to health care and improving the well being of the community.

The clinic is among 180 organizations to receive a grant or donation this year from Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The clinic was founded in 1993 to serve McLean County residents who don't have health insurance and can't acquire it through their employer. To qualify for clinic services, clients must be county residents who meet federal poverty guidelines and aren't eligible for any government health care assistance. The clinic serves more than 3,000 patients.

Wellness clinics

PONTIAC -- Livingston County Health Department is taking appointments for wellness clinics at the health department on Sept. 11 and 25. Wellness clinics are open to all adults in Livingston County.

Basic clinic services include blood pressure screening, metabolic syndrome screening and a blood chemistry profile. The cost is $30.

Additional services available at additional fees include PSA (prostate specific antigen) prostate cancer testing for men, thyroid (TSH) screening, and HbA1c screening for clients with diabetes. Women may receive osteoporosis screening. For an appointment time, call (815) 844-7174.

Menu change

STREATOR -- The nutritional services department at St. Mary's Hospital has switched to a restaurant-style menu that offers patients a range of selections for each meal.

Kara Hughes, manager of nutritional services, said that instead of three entrees a day, patients have more than 20 options. The menu also allows patients on therapeutic diets for diabetes, heart disease and hypertension to have more choices within the guidelines of their diet restrictions.

Lupus Walk

EUREKA -- The 3rd Annual Pat Nohl Life Without Lupus Memorial Walk attracted more than 300 people and raised about $21,000 for the battle against lupus, said organizer Phyllis Troyer of Goodfield.

The walk was Aug. 11 at Eureka Lake. The walk is conducted to raise awareness about lupus and to raise money for the Lupus Foundation of Central Illinois, which supports research, as well as books, brochures and a phone line for patients. The event is conducted in memory of Troyer's daughter, Pat Nohl of Goodfield, who died of lupus in 2004 at age 44. The phone line is (309) 353-4357.

Red Cross

FAIRBURY -- Fairbury residents are collecting used 20-ounce pop bottles to help fund the American Red Cross of Heartland and save the environment. Red Cross in Fairbury is a member of the Bottle Brigade, a nationwide recycling program that donates money to charitable causes.

For every used 20-ounce pop bottle that the department collects, TerraCycle Inc. will donate 5 cents to the Red Cross.

Volunteers help in the collecting, cleaning and packaging to send to TerraCycle. Bob Gibson, an employee at the Fairbury Recycling Center, separates the used pop bottles and passes them to another volunteer who takes them to the Red Cross office, where they are de-labeled and prepared for packaging.

Submit Health Digest items to Health Editor Paul Swiech at pswiech@pantagraph.com

APPOINTMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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