Restaurant by donating $1, $2, or $5 with your meal, and donating any amount towards the campaign by visiting thefortsmithhouse.com. Thank you to the River Valley community for helping RMHC of Arkoma keep families close.

Think of nutrition as primary healthcare. The mission at Antioch for Youth & Family is to nurture mind, body and spirit with purpose and persistence. When you think about it, taking such a holistic approach is vital to the economic well-being of the Arkansas river valley.

It is imperative to all of us that children go to school, ready to learn and not ready to eat and that employees are present and prepared to be productive. Smart food choices in the home make both of those things happen. Antioch provides food assistance in such a way that proper meals are served at home and paves the way for a lifelong appreciation for wholesome eating.

The most visible impact of the ACHE involves the dramatic progress of campus development. When the groundbreaking was held in March 2015 for the initial building to house the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, few would have imagined that less than six years a formidable complex of educational buildings, student housing, retail enterprises and residential housing would have emerged.

Opens New Clinic in Chaffee Crossing, Walk-ins Welcome!

Eric Drolshagen, MD, is now accepting patients at a Baptist Health’s newest family medicine clinic in the River Valley. Baptist Health Family Clinic-Chaffee Crossing is located at 11300 Roberts Blvd. It’s Baptist Health’s second location in the growing area.

Dr. Drolshagen is a Fort Smith native and graduate of Northside High School who was eager to return home and care for residents of the River Valley. He earned a medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Bridgetown, Barbados, in 2016 and completed a residency in family medicine at Wheeling Hospital in Wheeling, West Virginia, this year.

How inpatient rehabilitation can benefit cardiac patients:

A central component of the human body, the cardiac system sets the pace for the entire body. Made up of the heart and blood vessels, the cardiac system delivers important fuel—oxygen-rich-blood—to keep the body functioning efficiently.

When conditions such as heart disease, stroke or surgery impact the system, inpatient rehabilitation can make a difference in how well the body responds to treatment and help patients regain strength as they begin their recovery.

Mercy Fort Smith began vaccinating eligible area residents for the COVID-19 virus on Jan. 20 by hosting several vaccination clinics for individuals included in Phase 1-B of the Arkansas Health Department’s schedule. Eligible residents who are included in Phase 1-A, which began in December, also can receive the vaccination. Phase 1-B began Jan. 18. Mercy will continue to schedule vaccines as supplies are made available. Supplies across the nation remain very limited.

Phase 1-B includes teachers and school staff, among others. Many co-workers with the Fort Smith School District were vaccinated on Jan. 22 during a clinic hosted by Mercy. Additional clinics are planned as supplies allow.

If area residents are eligible based on state and federal guidelines, they can submit a form at mercy.net/FSMVaccine to be placed on the wait list to receive notifications when appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine are available in your community. As vaccine supply allows, Mercy will be reaching out to schedule appointments with those who have submitted a form and are eligible to receive the vaccine. Visit mercy.net/VacFAQ for more information about the vaccine.

Dangers of Ignoring Oral Health Long Term:

You should always take care of your teeth and never bypass taking care of them when you experience dental pain or sensitivity. Otherwise, you can end up having a multitude of dental complaints. Therefore, make sure you always schedule regular dental cleanings and exams. By having in-office exams every 6 months, you can address and repair a small dental problem that could become a major issue in the future.

The Fort Smith Chamber focused on the importance of our healthcare community throughout 2020. Below you will see a slide show of our Healthcare Celebration Month in 2020. During this month we announced our Physician of the Year, Dr. Lee Johnson, featured Healthcare Champion Winners, and provided welcome bags to new to our area physicians.

Additionally, the Chamber visited with some of our healthcare category members during our December Shop Local Campaign. Watch our Shop Local Holiday Facebook Lives with these two members by clicking the pictures below: