Monroe Nichols (middle), a member of the state House of Representatives, is committed to diminishing homelessness to a “functional zero” level. Photo courtesy Monroe Nichols
Democrats Monroe Nichols and Karen Keith, who emerged from the Aug. 27 mayoral primary as Tulsa’s top two choices, face each other again during a run-off on Nov. 5.
“There is not a more consequential position in elected office when it comes to impacting people’s lives in a positive way, than that of mayor,” says Nichols, who is wrapping up eight years as a member of the Oklahoma State House of Representatives.
“I love Tulsa, and having worked the last 16 years at the county and previously for Mayor [Robert] Lafortune, I see a number of things I would like to address, and am pretty much in a unique position to do so,” says Keith, who waived her chance for another term as Tulsa County Commissioner District 2 to run for mayor.
The Key Issues
Public education, homelessness and infrastructure are among key issues identified by the candidates.
“We have to get serious about improving student outcomes,” Nichols says. “Student outcomes are, in large part, driven by socio-economic challenges.”
Nichols says his plan includes creation of a mayor’s office of children, youth and families. He also wants to form a public-private partnership to be called the Teach in Tulsa Fund that would “incentivize teachers who are getting growth out of students to stay in the classroom.”
Keith says working to improve public education would be her first order of business.
Karen Keith, currently the Tulsa County Commissioner for District 2, says working to improve public education would be her first order of business as Tulsa mayor. Photo courtesy Karen Keith
“I come from a family of educators,” she says. “I was educated in the public school system. I want to be present for our educators, to support them.”
Keith’s agenda includes hiring more crossing guards and providing more lighting in areas “where kids are in the dark trying to get to school.”
She says she will work with philanthropic organizations to attract and retain teachers. One idea is that the down payment on a house would be covered for teachers who stay in the district for more than 5 years.
“Tulsa’s homeless crisis is getting worse every year,” Nichols says. “The role of the mayor moving forward is that we have to meet this challenge head on.”
Nichols’ ideas for achieving “functional zero homelessness” include reducing blighted properties by 60%; increasing affordable housing units by 6,000; reducing Tulsa’s eviction rate; and creating a citywide system of mental and substance abuse support. Functional zero homelessness, he says, means it’s “rare, brief and non-recurring.”
Keith says she is greatly concerned about the homeless crisis and believes affordable housing is a key factor.
“Every mayor has said they are going to fix our permitting and inspections departments, and it just hasn’t happened,” Keith says. “I’ve been working with the developers for a year now and I think we have a pretty good plan.”
For affordable housing especially, Keith says, “the process takes too long and it costs too much money. We just need to make it easier for them to do the work. And that includes Habitat for Humanity.”
A Bright Future
If elected, Nichols would be Tulsa’s first Black mayor.
“I don’t doubt that race is a part of it,” Nichols says in relation to Tulsans choosing their next mayor. “But I think people are starting to evaluate just who is best for the job.”
Keith says she has “worked across party lines for my entire career,” including state legislators and U.S. House and Senate members with whom she partnered to bring infrastructure funding to the state.
She was also endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, “and I am really proud of that,” she says. “We have an incredible police force. They are highly educated. Tulsa has a lot to be proud of with both our police and our firefighters, and all of our first responders, including EMSA.”
Nichols, who was endorsed by former Tulsa mayor Kathy Taylor and former Oklahoma governor Brad Henry, says: “Cities are where all the great innovation comes from. We have proven time and time again that Tulsa is a place where you can do things that haven’t been done anywhere else.”
Visiting high schools, partnering up with technical schools and providing industry-leading pay are just a few of the ways OU Health attracts top-notch healthcare workers. Photos courtesy OU Health
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the healthcare industry, especially when it comes to worker shortages – as these led to nationwide healthcare issues like decreased quality of care and longer wait times. On a state level, leadership in the industry is looking to hire and retain skilled healthcare workers through a variety of avenues. In fact, Jimmy Duncan, chief human resources officer for OU Health, says “the last three years have been more of an opportunity than a challenge.”
One thing the pandemic taught the healthcare industry, he says, is that “we could be more flexible.” OU Health now has remote employees living in 22 states, working in staff positions such as patient billing and telehealth.
A focus on recruitment and retention has led to enticements such as scholarships and tuition forgiveness, especially for registered nurses, Duncan says. Nurses, he mentions, are typically the most sought-after employees.
“We are always hiring RNs, techs and patient-care assistants,” he says. “They are the team members who are front-facing.”
OU Health has made a commitment to be well-staffed at its hospitals with support personnel such as nurse aides, which can allow RNs to focus on higher-level duties. The health system has continued since the height of the pandemic to emphasize market-leading pay, help for its employees to achieve work-life harmony – and just generally making its 11,000 team members feel valued, Duncan says.
The changing nature of the field means registered nurses have options beyond the clinical setting, such as public health nursing, health administration, forensics, legal consulting and informatics. Many have become traveling nurses, which is another option that became more visible during the early days of COVID.
“Healthcare only gets about 60% of the RNs who graduate,” Duncan says.
The nursing school at the University of Oklahoma accepts every student who qualifies, and last year had its largest freshman class ever, Duncan says. The program provides clinical training opportunities for nursing students and hires a high percentage of those graduates. The health system also partners with the medical school to train interns and residents.
“We are making sure we can support any resident that wants to come into our organization, especially with OU Health Sciences Center and the OU College of Nursing. We have more than 200 nursing residents at any one time,” Duncan says. “Our goal is to provide them with a job offer at the end of their experience.”
Oklahoma City’s place as one of the most populous metros in the United States makes it increasingly easier to attract healthcare workers from border states and beyond.
“We had a new-hire orientation this morning,” Duncan mentions during a phone call in August. “We had new employees from Washington state, Maryland, South Carolina and Minnesota.”
Duncan says the health system also visits high schools to promote healthcare careers and has partnerships with Francis Tuttle, Metro Tech and other institutions that train essential employees such as radiologists, phlebotomists and respiratory therapists.
Amplifying Rural Health
OU Health is not out to compete with smaller towns and systems for employees, Duncan says.
“We have partnerships with a lot of rural organizations and take a lot of our services to their communities. That’s how we address some of those workforce gaps. It’s our commitment to improve the health of all Oklahomans by touching every corner of the state. It’s not necessarily a competition for the workforce. We are all connected.”
OU Health appeals to many students and employees because of its academic adult medical center and children’s hospital, where “we take care of the sickest patients in the community,” Duncan says.
Potential employees are also attracted by the academic mission.
“We are always trying to find the next greatest cure,” he says. “The research component is so important.”
Taking pictures has become something many people do on a daily basis. After all, lives are defined by images. Much of the credit for this can be laid at the feet of smartphones. Many people take pictures merely to document their lives for future nostalgia or to share with friends and loved ones, but what about those who want to do more? When taking pictures becomes a serious hobby or even a profession, one way to improve skills and grow as a photographer is to join a club.
Oklahoma has several options for photography clubs, but perhaps the longest-running is the Oklahoma Camera Club (OCC). Formed in 1931 during the early days of photography and long before camera phones, the OCC holds meetings on two Tuesday evenings each month.
“[Our members] come to learn and share ideas, to develop their photographic skills, to enjoy the art of photography,” says OCC president Jaci Finch.
The mission of the club includes helping photographers, from beginning hobbyists to professionals, to advance their knowledge of photography through fellowship and sharing of information and skills. OCC is also a founding member of the national organization Photographic Society of America, which offers a wide range of learning opportunities for those interested in art form.
Another club that supports photographic pursuits in Oklahoma is the Oklahoma City Photography Group.
“Members can expect to improve their skills, learn from experts and connect with others who share their passion for photography,” says Magee Delos Santos, the group’s event manager. “It’s a practical, hands-on approach to learning, emphasizing fun and social interaction.”
The barriers for entrance are low for these clubs – no expertise required. Everyone is welcome and membership is not typically required to attend meetings. And no fancy, high-level equipment is expected either, though many of their members do enjoy practicing with actual cameras in addition to smartphone cameras. All skill levels are welcome.
“Whether someone is just starting out or has been photographing for years, they will find opportunities to grow and enhance their skills,” says Santos. “[Our] focus is on fostering a welcoming and engaging atmosphere where all members can feel comfortable and supported in their photographic journey.”
Pictured are a collection of photographs from Oklahoma Camera Club members:
Stanley Roth Shrine by Bryan HapkeLife on the Swamp by Lyuda CameronBoats in the Harbor by Wally LeeIt’s Easier with Your Eyes Closed by Ward ConawayCapital Dome by Joy Randall
Photographic Technology
At the Oklahoma Camera Club, there is an emphasis on learning all the technology throughout the photography process, both for actually taking photos and for editing them later.
“Most of our members are hobby photographers and have a real interest in developing a high level skill – using the technology required both to use the equipment for taking the picture and the computer skills for finishing their work [and] taking pride in the finished photographic image – projected, print or both,” says Finch.
The OCC offers classes that can help photographers enhance the images they have taken.
“The club members work together with the primary goals of having fun, sharing information, and learning both the technology and the art of photography,” says Finch.
Oklahoma entertainer Flora Campbell (middle) was profiled in the August 1955 edition of TV Radio Mirror magazine. Photos courtesy the John Wooley Collection
If you’re ever in the mood to go looking for television pioneers, you could start right here in our state. Among those who made lasting marks in ’50s TV are Claremore native Patti Page, who had three shows on two different networks through most of that decade, complementing her numerous hit records; Tulsa’s Blake Edwards, who created the archetypal TV private eye, Peter Gunn, in 1958 (and went on to produce and direct a number of major theatrical features); and Oklahoma City’s Molly Bee, a young country-music singer who, in the early ‘50s, parlayed her status as a regular performer on a popular West Coast TV show, Hometown Jamboree, into a national career.
But before any of those folks ambled onto the small screen, there was someone else, a woman who’d left behind her native Nowata (and her subsequent hometowns of Bartlesville and Oklahoma City) for Broadway in the 1930s, where she’d ultimately scored substantial roles in such plays as Many Mansions, Foxhole in the Parlor (which co-starred Montgomery Clift, just prior to the start of his notable film career) and The Curious Savage, in which she shared top billing with famed silent-movie star Lillian Gish. Her name was Flora Campbell, and by 1950, when Curious Savage began its run, she’d also been exploring other forms of entertainment, specifically radio and television, for several years. In fact, she’d played Jo in what has to be the earliest TV adaptation of Little Women, broadcast during the 1939 holiday season, when there were only a few thousand TV sets in the whole country.
But as noteworthy as that appearance is, her status as a true trailblazer came a few years later, when she starred in television’s very first soap opera, Faraway Hill. Debuting on the now-long-defunct DuMont Network on Oct. 2, 1946, this serialized melodrama featured Campbell as a wealthy New Yorker named Karen St. John, who goes to live with relatives in the countryside after her husband’s death. There, she meets a handsome farmer and falls for him, only to find out he’s engaged to her cousin. Uh-oh.
It was the first recurring TV role for Campbell, but not her first soap opera. That particular form of entertainment, featuring a lead female character doing her best to keep things together during an unending barrage of daily challenges, familial and otherwise, had been introduced via radio in the very early 1930s – and had taken off. At that time, housewives made up the soaps’ target audience, so the episodes were generally broadcast on weekday mornings or afternoons, prime listening times for those who did their work at home. The shows were often sponsored by soaps or detergents – which gave the genre its nickname. By the time Faraway Hill came along, Campbell was already a soap-opera veteran, having played lead roles in both NBC Radio’s Brave Tomorrow and CBS Radio’s The Strange Romance of Evelyn Winters.
In addition to appearing on TV rather than radio, Faraway Hill broke some other conventions of the genre. It came on once a week, rather than daily, and it was broadcast in the evening. And while it was the first of its kind to air on television, it didn’t last long, expiring on Dec. 18, 1948. Interestingly enough, Campbell’s Karen St. John, the show’s main character, also died in the final episode, something else that seldom if ever happened in the radio soaps. Then again, there were still only a few thousand TV sets out there to chronicle her demise, as opposed to the millions of radios available to soap-opera listeners.
Unlike her character, Campbell persevered. She continued doing radio, TV and theater work, and by 1954 she was starring in another televised soap, CBS-TV’s Valiant Lady, taking over the title role of Helen Emerson from fellow stage and radio actress Nancy Coleman. That one did considerably better than Faraway Hill, running until late 1957.
An extensive article on Campbell in the August 1955 TV Radio Mirror indicates that Campbell initially had misgivings about playing Valiant Lady’s title character.
“She sounded so ‘noble’ that I was afraid she wouldn’t be a very interesting person,” Campbell told writer Mary Temple. “I was quite wrong about her. Helen Emerson is a warmhearted, delightful human being, a woman I admire and like.”
So did soap opera fans. By the time Campbell took over the role, there were TV sets in more than 60% of American households. Campbell appeared in a good percentage of those homes every weekday, becoming one of television’s earliest stars. In fact, according to newspaper columnist Jane Allison, she was “one of the most popular daytime heroines of all time.”
That writer’s pronouncement came in her July 18, 1957, “Hoosier in Manhattan” column, a feature of Indiana newspapers at the time. It was part of a story about Campbell’s leaving Valiant Lady. Since Campbell had taken on the role, wrote Allison, “[S]he has, in spite of the frantic communications from her fans, managed to be jilted in three most unfortunate romances, has suffered at least one major crisis a week, and many, many minor ones, and has (again with her viewers’ help) lived through a constant procession of nagging worries and fears attendant to the rearing three television children, all distinctly difficult cases.
“Two and a half years of that would tire anyone, whether he took his soap opera life seriously or not. And it has definitely tired Flora Campbell, who has lived Helen Emerson’s life almost as deeply and intensely as her own. When she goes off the air in August, she’s going off to rest, and unless she’s more valiant than she thinks she is at the moment, the next few weeks will be Flora Campbell’s swan song to the role of Helen Emerson.”
Sure enough, Valiant Lady left the air on Aug. 16, 1957, with Helen Emerson finally marrying Governor Lawrence Walker (played by John Graham) who’d been after her for quite some time. The show would not return. And while Flora Campbell could be seen at the movies and on TV in a small handful of supporting roles over the next couple of decades – notably in the long-running daytime soap Love Is A Many Splendored Thing – she appears to have devoted the majority of her time to her husband, Ben Cutler (called in his 2001 New York Times obituary “one of New York’s top four society bandleaders”), their son and daughter, and the remodeled Connecticut farmhouse where they all lived. In her TV Radio Mirror piece, Mary Temple noted that this attention to family was something both the real-life Flora Campbell and her soap opera alter-ego had in common – thanks in great part to Campbell’s Oklahoma upbringing.
“Sharing Helen Emerson’s strong feeling about family ties, Flora Campbell finds her a sympathetic person to play,” Temple wrote. “This feeling, fostered by having a family of her own, was bred in her during her Oklahoma childhood. Although her mother passed on some twenty years ago, she has never forgotten the brave woman who always had such great drive and ambition for her children. Flo says of her, ‘She went out to Oklahoma to teach school, and there she met my father. All her life she was interested in education. She was a Browning scholar, a bird lover who lectured on the subject in our home state and taught others to love them. Even her name was beautiful and unusual – Isis Justice Campbell.’”
Temple went on to note that Campbell’s father (whom sources say was a grocer in Nowata during Campbell’s early years), had retired to Coffeyville, Kansas, to be near a number of family members.
“They see Valiant Lady on television and tell her it’s like getting a letter from her,” wrote Temple. “‘It keeps us close,’ she says.”
On Nov. 6, 1978, Flora Campbell, Nowata-born television pioneer, died in Connecticut at the age of 67.
My thanks to Paul McSpadden for his help with this column.
Tierra del Fuego is about as far south as you can get while still being in civilization. It’s the land at the End of the World – the extreme southern tip of Argentina, just across the mythical Strait of Magellan in Patagonia. The island is also the jumping off point for stout-hearted Antarctica adventurers.
The gateway into Tierra del Fuego is its capital, Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. The town of 80,000 sits on a wide bay on the southern coast of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego and supports a lively light industrial port and emerging tourism.
Tierra del Fuego National ParkMartial GlacierThe Lighthouse at the End of the World in the Beagle ChannelUshuaia against the snow-capped Andes mountains
It’s a place of dramatic, rugged scenery. Looking out across Beagle Channel south of Ushuaia, you know that beyond the mountainous islands you can see is the 600-mile-wide Drake Passage and then Antarctica. In between is a kingdom of sculpted snow and ice, countless colonies of penguins, pods of breaching whales, sea lions, giant petrels, great wandering albatross and massive Andean condors, the largest flying birds in the world with wingspans of 12 feet.
Expedition ships traverse the Drake regularly for forays into Antarctica and a chance to walk contemplatively with throngs of penguins and seals, as well as to go on hikes to higher elevations for terrific views of icebergs and glaciers. For the ultimate experience, rent a sea kayak and explore these wildlife habitats silently.
There’s only one colony of charismatic King penguins on the continent, and it’s found at Pinguino Rey Park on Chile’s side of the Strait of Magellan. The Kings are second in size only to the Emperor and are wonderful divers. Visit in the summer and you may see some chicks. Over on Isla Martillo, you’re invited to mingle with genial colonies of Magellanic and Gentoo penguins who’ve made that island their home.
It was the Yamanas more than 10,000 years ago who called the area Tierra del Fuego, named after the large bonfires they kept going to brace against the cold weather. The indigenous tribe carved long, pointed canoes made of bark and featuring small fireplaces midships.
Despite its name, the “Train of the Prisoners” is actually a delightful steam-driven chain of coaches that merely traces the same route trains took years ago ferrying convicts in Ushuaia to work nearby timber fields. Today, VIP passengers enjoy three-course dinners. The excursion train, also known as the End of the World train, is a very good way to get into Tierra del Fuego National Park out along the coast, a remote part of the island that’s unusually rich in wildlife.
King penguins
Just a couple of miles outside of Ushuaia is something pretty special, the Martial glacier. Take a short hike, cross a couple of streams, catch the chairlift and viola for amazing vistas of Beagle Channel.
The 1884 lighthouse that inspired Jules Verne’s novel The Lighthouse at the End of the World still stands on a bay in Isla de los Estados, bidding sailors adios as they enter Antarctica.
In Ushuaia, many fine restaurants beckon with local specialties: Fuegian lamb (they say the dish’s nuanced flavors come from where the lambs pasture), Patagonian toothfish (aka Chilean sea bass) and the piece de resistance, king crab from the Southern Sea. Wherever you dine, follow it up with a cup of strong black Argentinian coffee cut with hot milk and see if they have some alfajores, local sweets filled with dulce de leche.
Stay at the Los Cauquenes Resort and Spa on Beagle Channel, a wooden lodge offering active adventures (like intriguing hikes) and a gorgeous setting. Also overlooking the Beagle is the Arakur Ushuaia Resort, with two heated pools and on-site stables situated in its own nature reserve.
Visit during their summer (November to March), when days are longer and the weather is mild.
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer remains one of the most common forms of cancer in American women, with 1 in 8 women expected to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetimes. Regular screening tests are the best way to detect cancer early, and guidelines for screenings have recently changed.
Wajeeha Razaq, M.D., who specializes in hematology and oncology at the OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center in Oklahoma City, says the United States Preventive Services Task Force revised its 2024 recommendations and now suggests starting routine biennial screenings at age 40, while both the American Cancer Society and European screening guidelines recommend starting screening at age 45.
“Many expert groups encourage shared decision-making for women in their 40s because of trade-offs between benefits and harms,” says Razaq.
For women ages 40 to 44, the American Cancer Society states that women “should have the choice to start yearly breast cancer screening with a mammogram if they wish to do so.” While the median age at the time of a breast cancer diagnosis is 62, half of women who develop breast cancer are 62 years or younger when diagnosed – with approximately nine percent of breast cancers occurring in women under age 45.
Razaq says in countries with established breast cancer screening programs, most breast cancers are found due to an abnormal mammogram.
“However, up to 15% of women are diagnosed with breast cancer due to the presence of a breast mass that is not detected on mammogram – known as mammographically occult disease – and another 30% present with a breast mass in the interval between mammograms,” says Razaq. “In addition, women without access to screening mammograms and younger women under 40 years who may not be undergoing routine screening mammograms may present with a breast or axillary mass with or without skin changes – and breast cancer can be painful or completely asymptomatic.”
She says hormone positive breast cancer is the most common type of breast cancer, while triple negative breast cancer makes up approximately 10-15% of cases and Her2 positive tumors make up an estimated 15% of cases.
Common breast cancer symptoms can include the discovery of a new lump or mass, swelling of all or part of a breast, skin dimpling, breast or nipple pain, nipple retraction and/or discharge, nipple or breast skin that is red, dry, flaking or thickened, and/or swollen lymph nodes under the arm or near the collarbone.
“For all women, I suggest that they should be very familiar with their breasts and any abnormality they see, they should report it to their primary care physician,” says Razaq, who recommends starting mammograms at age 40 and then following up with yearly exams.
“Women who have a personal history of breast, ovarian, peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer, certain genetic mutations (eg, BRCA1 or BRCA2, TP53), or a history of previous radiotherapy to the chest between ages 10 and 30 years, are at high risk for developing breast cancer. For patients with a lifetime risk of greater than 20 percent, I suggest a supplemental MRI in addition to mammography.”
Group therapy session in progress. The image presents a back view of a woman leading a discussion in a warm, sunlit room surrounded by attentive participants seated in a circle.
Life has its ups and downs – and when the downs get a little too low, reaching out for help via one of Oklahoma’s many support groups is an excellent, sometimes life-saving, choice to make.
Whether you are seeking information and guidance regarding a chronic medical condition such as cancer, grief support after the loss of a loved one, assistance with addiction, or just a place to talk with others about life’s struggles, there are likely to be other people in your area who have walked the same path you are navigating. But how can Oklahomans find relevant and legitimate support groups for the issues they face?
“There are many ways to find support groups, but I would suggest one starts by asking their primary care physician, a licensed therapist or simply [doing] an online search,” says Artisha Woody, founder and executive director of Locs of Strength, a group whose primary commitment is to African-American women diagnosed with breast cancer – many of whom may otherwise be at a loss for finding help. “Recent studies have shown that there’s a direct link to survivorship, improved health and increased moods by participating in support groups,” she says.
Support groups provide a safe space where individuals can be vulnerable about the challenges they face – while also allowing them to receive a break from everyday life and acknowledge viable solutions, all within a supportive group of peers.
Any breast cancer survivor, active patient and/or caregiver may reach the organization via email at [email protected], social media (Facebook and Instagram: Locs of Strength) or via telephone at 405-834-7980.
Josh Turzanski, director of Peer and Wellness Services at the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Oklahoma, Inc. (DBSA), agrees that support groups can play a vital role in recovery.
“There are many issues people face nowadays,” Turzanski says. “Though I can’t relate to issues outside of the mental health arena, I can say that there are support groups out there for just about anything. You can always utilize the 988 and 211 resources.”
988, or the Mental Health Lifeline, is a direct line that connects callers with trained behavioral health professionals in Oklahoma. Additionally, 211 Oklahoma is a free, 24/7 statewide program that connects Oklahomans with information and referrals to health and human services.
Turzanski says support groups are a great way to share your story with others who have been dealing with the same situation, as well as to receive and give advice on coping. To contact DBSA, call 405-254-3994.
According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the benefits of joining a support group include the opportunity to reduce anxiety, depression and the general sense of fatigue that comes with an onslaught of distress.
The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) has an Oklahoma chapter that can be reached at 1-800-850-6264 or by email at [email protected]. According to their website, NAMI Connection is a resource for those seeking advice and understanding of mental health conditions. Such conditions can disrupt the ability to feel emotions, express thoughts and connect with others. Successes, as well as challenges, are explored to help afflicted individuals and their families find potential solutions to their everyday problems.
The bottom line: searching for supportive communities and asking for help are never bad decisions – and they can even save a life.
The Poncan Theatre. Photos courtesy the Poncan Theatre
Goblins on Grand – Ponca City’s 20th annual free, citywide Halloween event that draws thousands to the northern Oklahoma city’s downtown – is just one reason to give the Kay County community more than a cursory glance.
The Standing Bear Park and Museum is dedicated to the culture represented by Ponca Chief Standing Bear. Photo courtesy Standing Bear Park and Museum
Maci Graves, Ponca City’s Main Street director, says more than 80 booths are lined up for the frightfully spooky Oct. 17 festivities. Last year’s carnival drew about 3,500 people, with more expected this year. Admission is free.
Later in the year, Main Street offers up its annual ice-skating rink, beginning with a Nov. 17 holiday tree-lighting. Other major draws to Ponca City are two glorious 20th century homes built by Continental Oil Co. founder and Oklahoma’s 10th governor, E.W. Marland: Marland’s Grand Home and the Marland Mansion. Both are operated by the E.W. Marland Estate. The mansion will be the site of an annual Christmas gala, open to the public, on Dec. 14.
In addition to the Ponca City architectural gems, visitors can also find the famed Pioneer Woman Statue and Museum, dedicated to the pioneering spirit of the women who helped shape today’s Oklahoma; as well as the Standing Bear Park and Museum, dedicated to the culture represented by Chief Standing Bear.
“We’re on an upward trend,” says Graves. “I anticipate it continuing in this trend for many years to come. We have new businesses [and] a decrease in vacancies.”
David Keathly, executive director of the E.W. Marland Estate and Marland’s Grand Home, says both the 43,000-square-foot, 55-room, Italian Renaissance mansion and the Grand Home, with its 16,000 square feet, 22 rooms and Mediterranean Revival architecture, represent different styles of wonderment.
“Both of the houses are beautiful but they’re totally different,” Keathly says. “Mr. Marland was true to styles, and brought many things from Europe to north central Oklahoma that are totally unexpected.”
Interest in both homes, from Oklahomans and surrounding states’ residents, remains high due to marketing efforts and recent attention on Oklahoma spurred by the movie Killers of the Flower Moon, set in neighboring Osage County.
“We know that Oklahomans and people from the southern plains really enjoy visiting us,” says Keathly.
Marland’s Grand Home boasts 16,000 square feet, 22 rooms and Mediterranean Revival architecture. Photo courtesy Marland’s Grand Home
Topping all these draws off is the downtown Poncan Theatre, opened in 1927. Today, it continues to provide live and cinematic entertainment in the form of productions by the Evans Children’s Academy of Performing Arts as well as screenings of first-run movies.
The Poncan Theatre (above and main image), rumored to be home to paranormal guests, was opened in 1927. Photos courtesy the Poncan Theatre
Ashley Barringer, the theater’s marketing chair, says the Academy, with performers ages 7 to 18 from the Ponca City area, stages up to nine productions annually.
Luke Garrison, president of the Poncan Theatre board, says the theater compares with others across the U.S. in the 1920s and 1930s.
“We can show a blockbuster movie one weekend and put a musical or concert on stage the next,” he says.
Local legend holds that the place might also have an occasional paranormal visitor. Garrison mentions that “ghost hunters” occasionally rent the theater for late-night stays.
“Decades ago, a young woman passed away during a show, and many have said she haunts the theater,” Garrison says. “The ghost hunters always say she is still present, as are others. That said, I have been in that theater many late nights, and she has never visited.”
Barringer concedes that speculation about an occasional spooky visitor persists. Does she believe any of it?
“No, I don’t personally,” she says, “although it can be a little spooky being [alone] in the theater.”
Alexandra Johnson, Justin Kroll, Whitney Hollis, Sam Briggs, Maddie Breedlove, Christian Bester,
Paige Dickey; Filstrup Resident Artists season preparations, Tulsa Opera
Amber Edwards, Katherine Schell, Dr. Sarah Land, Kara Schatz; AWARE Alois Society lunch, Alzheimer’s Association, Oklahoma Chapter, TulsaVeronica Oswald, Jenny & Brandon Birks;
Meet the Comets, Bishop Kelley High School, TulsaHeather Gaglio, Charlotte Lankard; Ripples of Hope, Calm Waters, Oklahoma CityMargo Gianos, Irene Gianos; community event, CARE Center, OKC
Brandi Burkhalter, Marilyn Anderson, Chris Anderson, Will Bain;
70th Anniversary Bash for Cash, Lake Texoma Association, DurantTara Mundell, Dan Simoni; Go Red for Women Luncheon, American Heart Association, TulsaMichelle Linn, Scott Martin, Alexa Mostrom, Paris Rain; Go Red for Women Luncheon, American Heart Association, TulsaCharlene Kayiza, Katherine Vanlandingham, Amy Isaacson, Scott Cravens, Lauren Warkentine; 10th Annual Oklahoma Born & Brewed,
Oklahoma Hall of Fame, OKCBrandie Goins, Jyl Phillips; Care Packs & Cocktails, Tenaciously Teal, OKCAlexandra Johnson, Justin Kroll, Whitney Hollis, Sam Briggs, Maddie Breedlove, Christian Bester,
Paige Dickey; Filstrup Resident Artists season preparations, Tulsa Opera Periann Pulliam, Theresa Flannery, Alicia Terry;
ribbon cutting for Catholic Charities’ Sanctuary Women’s Development Center; Upward Transitions, OKCJD Younger, Carl Pendleton, Tommie Johnson III, Lee McWhorter, Ricky Jackson;
13th annual Engaging Men Luncheon, YWCA OKC
Experiencing a stroke or aneurysm is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate medical attention. To help protect yourself or a loved one, it’s important to understand the risk factors as well as the symptoms of these conditions.
Ashish Masih, M.D., a vascular neurologist at INTEGRIS Health in Oklahoma City, explains that there are two broad categories of stroke – hemorrhagic and ischemic – and they are diametrically opposite conditions.
“Hemorrhagic is characterized by too much blood within the closed cranial cavity, while ischemic is characterized by too little blood to supply an adequate amount of oxygen and nutrients to a part of the brain,” says Masih. “An aneurysm is an abnormal bulge or ballooning in the wall of a blood vessel, and an aneurysm can burst. This is called a rupture of the aneurysm and results in a subarachnoid hemorrhage – which is a type of stroke. Genetics, hypertension, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption are risk factors for aneurysmal development.”
He says the risk factors for stroke can be categorized as modifiable and non-modifiable.
“Age, sex and race/ethnicity are non-modifiable risk factors for both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke like aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage,” he says. “While hypertension, smoking, diet, diabetes, high cholesterol and physical inactivity are among some of the more commonly reported modifiable risk factors. I would recommend controlling all the modifiable risk factors that one can – and please stop smoking if you are smoking.”
Unfortunately, Masih says a subarachnoid hemorrhage is associated with a high early mortality rate.
“Population-based studies found that 18 to 24% of patients with a subarachnoid hemorrhage died suddenly prior to even being evaluated in a hospital,” he says. “In patients with ischemic strokes, prognosis varies from 10 to 26% in different populations.”
To help identify the symptoms of a stroke, the American Stroke Association encourages everyone to learn the F.A.S.T. warning signs.
F = Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop, or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is their smile uneven?
A = Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred?
T = Time to call 911.
F.A.S.T. warning signs for a stroke include facial drooping, arm weakness and speech difficulty. If a person is experiencing these symptoms, call 911. Photo courtesy INTEGRIS
Other stroke symptoms can include numbness on one side of the body, confusion, trouble speaking and/or walking and a severe headache with no known cause. When a person is suffering from a stroke, every minute counts. Receiving immediate medical attention can help minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and help prevent death.
The Ears, Nose and Throat
Sinus infections and ear infections can cause a lot of pain and discomfort, and often have similar symptoms. Jeremy Foon, M.D., M.P.H., an otolaryngologist/head and neck surgeon with Eastern Oklahoma Ear Nose and Throat in Tulsa, says it can be hard to tell the difference between the two infections without having a physician check the ears and nose.
Symptoms of a sinus infection can include headache, facial pressure, discolored mucus drainage, nasal congestion, fatigue and a poor sense of smell – while an ear infection can cause ear pain and drainage, difficulty hearing and tinnitus.
“The most common ear infection in adults is an outer [ear canal] infection also known as swimmer’s ear,” says Foon. “This can be related to swimming, but is also common when the ear is exposed to moisture and humid air. This is not the same as otitis media – a middle ear [behind the eardrum] infection – which is the most common ear infection in young kids. Kids in general are not more likely to get an ear infection from water exposure, despite common thinking.”
Experts say the ears are self-cleaning – and to avoid items like Q-tips and home ear cleaning kits, which often “create more problems than solutions.” Photos courtesy Eastern Oklahoma ENT
Foon says the number one ‘maintenance’ medication to help with chronic allergies and sinus infections is a daily intranasal steroid spray like Flonase or Nasonex.
“There is a common misconception that nasal steroid sprays can’t be used long-term,” he says. “This is not true! They can be used daily and for most people, indefinitely. Intranasal steroids do not spread to the rest of the body but instead stay confined to the nose. The daily nose sprays to avoid are decongestants, like Afrin. These are highly addictive and can damage the nose over time.”
In regard to the overall health of your ears, Foon stresses that the ears are ‘self cleaning.’
“That means for most of the population, leave them alone!” he says. “Q-tips, irrigations and home ear cleaning kits can often create more problems than solutions, like a blown eardrum. Q-tips are a major issue, because they push wax further in but don’t pull it out.”
In addition, he says keeping the ears dry with ear plugs or using swimmer’s ear drops is not usually necessary except in individuals who are predisposed to getting outer ear infections.
Ben J. Harvey, M.D., (above), says cataract surgery has one of the highest impacts on quality of life compared to any other surgery. Photo courtesy Dean McGee
The Eyes
It’s smart to protect your eyesight at any age in order to prevent vision loss – and a few simple steps can make all the difference. An easy place to start is eye wear.
Ben J. Harvey, M.D., is a glaucoma specialist and clinical associate professor with the Dean McGee Eye Institute and the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City.
“Protecting your eyes from UV radiation in sunlight is important as it may exacerbate certain eye diseases like macular degeneration and cataract progression,” he says. “A brimmed hat is not sufficient; instead, polarized sunglasses are recommended.”
He also emphasizes that protective eye wear is largely underutilized.
“It’s vital to wear protective eye wear during any occupation or hobby that may create projectiles such as yard work, landscaping, woodwork, metal work, hammering and sawing,” says Harvey.
In addition, he says sleeping in contact lenses dramatically increases one’s risk of developing a vision-threatening corneal ulcer.
“Avoiding smoke and second-hand smoke can also reduce the risk of certain eye diseases progressing,” he says. “And excessive screen time is associated with development of myopia or nearsightedness in children, and it can exacerbate dry eye symptoms.”
Harvey says any time someone experiences a significant change in vision, increased redness or presence of eye pain, they should have a thorough ophthalmic examination.
“Certain conditions like diabetes require regular eye exams, and those with a family history of eye diseases should get checked by an ophthalmologist regularly as well,” he says. “For routine screening of eye diseases, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends everyone receive at least one comprehensive eye exam at least by age 40 and approximately every year after age 65.”
Harvey, who also specializes in treating cataracts, says cataract surgery has one of the highest impacts on quality of life compared to any other surgery.
“More recent advancements in specialty intraocular lens implants have the potential to further augment one’s quality of life by increasing one’s independence from glasses,” he says. “Such lenses can be tailored to individual patients to accommodate their lifestyle.”
However, he says to be sure and talk to your ophthalmologist about your options.
“Not everyone is a candidate for these specialty lenses, and some may be contraindicated in certain conditions – and no lens implant can currently guarantee spectacle independence,” he says.
The Heart
David Sandler, M.D, a cardiologist with the Oklahoma Heart Institute in Tulsa, says “despite significant medical advances and accessible health and wellness resources, someone dies from cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds in the United States.” And while a family history of heart disease can increase one’s risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes are the largest contributors.
David Sandler, M.D., with the Oklahoma Heart Institute in Tulsa, says that exercise is key to heart health – and to prioritize it, “even if you don’t find every activity ‘fun.'” Photo courtesy Oklahoma Heart Institute
“You can reduce the risk [of heart disease] with exercise, a healthy and balanced diet, limiting alcohol consumption, avoiding smoking and vaping, and keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol levels at proper levels,” says Sandler. “In our office, we offer screening tests for people to become more proactive with heart disease. These include ultrasounds, stress tests and CT scans. These tests can help predict susceptibility to cardiovascular disease, but do not negate the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle.”
In recent years, studies have shown an increase of diabetes and obesity in young adults aged 20 to 40 years old, which can affect one’s overall risk of heart disease now and later in life.
“The younger you are when you develop conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, the more likely you are to develop heart disease in your lifetime,” says Khaldia Khaled, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.S.C.A.I., an interventional cardiologist with the CardioVascular Health Clinic in Oklahoma City. “Knowing you have risk factors and are predisposed to conditions helps treatment planning. Having a family history of heart disease is a well-known risk factor for coronary artery disease, especially a family history of premature coronary heart disease. These are the patients that we want to catch early and optimize medically. We can’t change someone’s family history of heart disease but we can perform early screening and treat for things like hypertension and diabetes in their early stages to help prevent the negative impact they have on cardiovascular health.”
If you’re facing these risk factors, Khaled recommends finding a primary care provider that you’re comfortable with and working towards mitigating your risks.
“We should start teaching children at early ages about exercise and healthy eating,” says Khaled. “When you grow up exercising and eating healthy regularly, those habits and patterns are more likely to cross over into adulthood. These are the ‘lifestyle modifications’ we often try to implement too late in life.”
The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of both.
“Activities that elevate your heart rate can include brisk walking, jogging, sprinting, swimming, weightlifting, pickleball, tennis and basketball,” says Sandler. “I recommend a combination of cardio and weight training to develop strength, reduce body fat and preserve proper range of motions and mobility. Spread your activity over the week and do something every day. Ideally, find an activity you can truly enjoy, but it’s important to prioritize exercise, even if you don’t find every activity ‘fun.’”
Sandler, who also specializes in heart rhythm disorders, regularly treats patients with heart arrhythmias – meaning the “heart beats irregularly, too fast or too slow, including short-lived feelings of the heart fluttering, thumping or pounding.”
He says the complexity of arrhythmias lies in the fact that they can go undetected.
“Some experience no symptoms while others may feel one or more of the following: palpitation, skipped heart beats, heart racing, weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting and shortness of breath,” he says. “Since heart rhythm abnormalities can lead to stroke, congestive heart failure, and death in severe cases, I recommend keeping track of your heart rate with personal devices, such as an Apple Watch and scheduling time with a doctor to review abnormalities you may discover. If your device has the capability, it is very useful to record an ECG strip and print it for your doctor to review.”
The Lungs
According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, accounting for about 1 in 5 of all cancer-related deaths.
Mark Boomer, M.D., a pulmonologist with Saint Francis Health System in Tulsa, says an early diagnosis is key to more positive outcomes.
“If a patient is in stage 1A cancer and they have surgery to remove the cancer, their five-year survival rate is 92%,” says Boomer. “Unfortunately, this past year, the national survival rate for lung cancer was 21%.”
He says there are multiple factors influencing these numbers.
“One of the reasons that lung cancer is such a silent killer is that there are no early symptoms,” says Boomer. “Once a person is manifesting symptoms, it’s often too late – the disease is at an advanced stage.”
He says with current healthcare shortages in many areas across the country, the time frame between receiving a screening, biopsy and diagnosis, can sometimes be longer than a patient should wait. In addition, local and national rates of lung cancer screenings are dismally low.
“Last year in Oklahoma, 1.7% of eligible patients were screened and nationally, only 4.5% of eligible patients were screened,” says Boomer. “I believe we can do better. One of the things that worries me about lung cancer and screening rates is that new data is showing the incidence of lung cancer in nonsmokers is going up, and we don’t know what’s causing that.”
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force currently recommends annual lung cancer screenings for people who are ages 50 to 80 years old, have a 20 pack-year smoking history, and who currently smoke cigarettes or have quit smoking within the past 15 years.
“People under the age of 50 do get lung cancer, but it’s rare,” says Boomer.
Regarding risk factors, it’s commonly known that smoking cigarettes increases one’s risk of lung cancer, however, the effects of long-term vaping are still relatively unknown.
“The lungs were designed to breathe air,” says Boomer. “Any form of smoke, including vaping, is bad, whether it’s smoke from cooking over an open campfire, smoking meats on the barbecue, or smoking marijuana. We don’t know the long-term effects of vaping because we haven’t had a generation of people who have vaped for 30 or 40 years. We know there are products that contain noxious toxic chemicals and that even young patients have suffered acute lung injuries and ended up on ventilators; it’s rare, but it happens. Vaping was originally designed to get people off cigarettes and then in turn, get them off vaping. But it hasn’t been utilized that way, and that’s the problem.”
He says with smoking, if you smoke a pack a day and you quit smoking at age 40, it adds an average of seven years back to your life. But with vaping, there’s not enough studies to provide these types of statistics.
Despite the need for increased awareness regarding lung cancer and screenings, Boomer shares the encouraging news that within the field of pulmonary oncology, there have been significant medical advancements in care.
“In the last five or 10 years, there’s been the development of many new treatment options,” says Boomer. “There are new chemotherapies, immunotherapies, genetic therapies and new ways to diagnose lung cancer.”
To learn more about your risk for lung cancer, take a simple online screening, or schedule a screening, visit saintfrancis.com/lungscreening.
Critical Care
Tulsa’s only ACS (American College of Surgeons) nationally verified Level II Trauma Center can be found at Ascension St. John Medical Center, which delivers advanced critical care for the community – when it’s needed the most.
On-call 24 hours a day and seven days a week, trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons make up the expansive team that saves lives. Other surgeons specializing in cardiothoracic, vascular, hand, plastics, obstetrics/gynecology and urology cases are also available at all hours.
“I am so proud to work with a team that dedicates themselves to caring for our community’s most critically-injured patients every day,” says Ascension St. John Health System CEO Bo Beaudry. “When it comes to trauma care, we strive to hold ourselves to the highest standards possible, which means we are delivering high quality care to those that need it most, when they need it most, right here in Tulsa.”
While the ACS-verification process is voluntary, it validates the resources available for trauma care at trauma centers, which ultimately provides an organized and systematic approach to the care of injured patients. According to the ACS, Level II Trauma Centers must have 24-hour immediate coverage by specialty trained trauma surgeons, as well as orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology and critical care specialists. Ascension St. John has been ACS-certified since 2009.
The Trauma Center delivers advanced critical care to help stabilize, diagnose and treat a broad array of trauma, including:
Blunt force trauma, including falls and personal injuries
All penetrating trauma (including ballistics injuries and piercing wounds)
Motor vehicle crashes, including cars, motorcycles, ATVs and bikes
Multiple severe fractures
Severe falls, including broken hips
Spine injuries
All brain injuries, including the most severe
The Stomach
Approximately 10-15% of people in the United States have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and nearly twice as many women than men have the condition, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. Symptoms of IBS, which include constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating, can cause patients to miss out on daily activities.
“Patients with irritable bowel syndrome also frequently have nonulcer dyspepsia, also known as functional dyspepsia,” says William Tierney, M.D., a gastroenterologist with OU Health in Oklahoma City.
Functional dyspepsia refers to symptoms of an upset stomach or chronic indigestion, but with no obvious cause. It is part of the spectrum of functional bowel disease which includes irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain and functional heartburn.
“There are upper GI [gastrointestinal tract] symptoms, but when we look for signs of inflammation or disease, we don’t find any objective evidence of disease because IBS and nonulcer dyspepsia falls under the category of functional bowel diseases.”
With functional bowel diseases, Tierney explains that patients have clear symptoms of GI distress but without the inflammation that’s associated with inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
“These patients may have an upper or lower endoscopy or perhaps a panel of blood tests, but there will be no signs of disease or inflammation,” he says. “Instead, we think there’s an alteration of the normal physiology of the GI tract – the visceral nervous system of the gut and motility of the digestive system is altered in these patients.”
Tierney notes that there’s been some improvement in understanding functional bowel disease, specifically regarding individuals whose symptoms may be caused by changes in the bacteria of the digestive tract.
“It’s a very small percentage of cases, but it’s worth investigating,” he says. “One condition in particular is small intestinal bacterial overgrowth where there is excess bacteria in the small intestine that leads to a lot of gas formation as well as diarrhea and/or constipation and bloating. We’ve found that if we treat patients with certain antibiotics to get rid of the unhealthy bacteria, then symptoms improve.”
Tierney says younger adults present the most incidents of functional bowel disease but it can occur at any age.
“While functional bowel disease can even begin in childhood, the older a patient is, especially in older adults, there’s greater concern that symptoms could be related to more serious causes such as stomach or colon cancer,” he says.
Tierney says another condition that’s gaining attention is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic [fatty] liver disease (MASLD) – previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This disease occurs when the body begins storing excess fat in the liver and is often associated with other metabolic disorders such as high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity.
Gastroenterologist William Tierney, M.D., has seen a rise in colon cancer patients in their 30s and 40s. He recommends that people take digestive issues seriously and undergo colonoscopies if recommended by a doctor. Photo courtesy OU Health
“Over time, this accumulation of fat in the liver can lead to chronic inflammation, scarring/cirrhosis and liver failure,” he says. “MASLD is now becoming one of the most common reasons for liver transplantation in the country. With Oklahoma having very high rates of obesity, we’re seeing a large number of patients with this particular condition. The mainstay of treatment for MASLD is weight loss and exercise.”
With the many varied and complex conditions related to the body’s digestive system, individuals should never ignore symptoms.
“We are seeing more and more young people with colon cancer, patients in their 30s and 40s,” says Tierney. “As a result, we recommend even young patients take symptoms such as blood in their stools seriously and undergo a colonoscopy. It’s why it’s so important for individuals to work with their primary care physician or digestive disease specialist to determine a diagnosis and manage treatment, particularly if there are high risks signs of bleeding or weight loss.”
In regard to advances in the field of gastroenterology, he says there have been a number of very impactful innovations.
“Advancements in procedures, such as in interventional endoscopy now allow patients to undergo less invasive procedures to treat or cure disease that in the past would require a major surgery,” says Tierney. “In addition, new medications have revolutionized the care of patients with inflammatory bowel disease and certain liver diseases such as viral hepatitis C. In the era of artificial intelligence, we are already seeing an impact on improving the quality of care for patients undergoing colonoscopy and we will certainly see further AI advances in disease diagnosis and optimizing medical management. It’s really an exciting time to be in the field.”
Yogesh Mittal, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with The Orthopaedic Center, says robotic- and computer-assisted surgeries have changed the game in his field. Photo courtesy TOC
The Joints
Being active and moving freely without chronic joint pain significantly impacts a person’s quality of life. It’s estimated that more than 700,000 Americans receive total knee replacements each year, both to treat pain and stay mobile.
Yogesh Mittal, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with The Orthopaedic Center in Tulsa, says the most common reasons patients receive a knee replacement are pain, lack of mobility and a decrease in function, and the average age to have the surgery is around 65.
“However, we are seeing more younger patients because we are more active as a society and surprisingly, also older patients in their 80s,” says Mittal. “We are living longer healthier lives, so our joints are wearing out.”
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the most common cause of chronic knee pain and disability is arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and post-traumatic arthritis. The AAOS reports that currently more than 90% of modern total knee replacements are functioning well 15 years after surgery.
Mittal says the continued development of robotic and computer-assisted surgery has disrupted the medical field in a good way, and other notable advances include a greater emphasis on pain control to allow for less pain during rehabilitation.
“Because we get a CT scan prior to surgery, there is a substantial amount of pre-planning and customization of the implant positioning to that patient’s unique anatomy,” says Mittal. “Intra-operatively, we can balance the knee more precisely and the robotic system helps with decision making. Also with robotics, a robotic arm assists in cutting the bone much more accurately and safely, and can also be less invasive and potentially allow for quicker recovery.”
Once a patient recovers, they can typically enjoy an active lifestyle with few limitations.
“It’s O.K. to jog, but ideally, we do not want our patients to begin running long distances,” says Mittal. “Otherwise, I allow all other activities.”
Telemedicine
Telemedicine has been around for decades, but with the shift in healthcare needs throughout the pandemic and beyond, it’s become an essential service. In recent years, at both national and state levels, legislative changes have helped progress telemedicine by increasing the scope of services offered, improving provider reimbursement, and applying new security regulations to protect patient privacy.
According to a 2022 survey conducted by Stanford Medicine’s Center for Digital Health and Rock Health – a nonprofit that supports innovations in digital health – telemedicine reached an 80% adoption mark overall, becoming the preferred channel for prescription care and minor illnesses. Other notable changes within the survey results included an increased use of telemedicine by respondents over the age 55, respondents living in rural areas, and respondents without health insurance at the time of the survey.
