Care Providers Oklahoma recently sounded the alarm on an impending crisis created by the Biden Administration’s approval of a new staffing mandate. The new mandate requires nursing homes to significantly increase the number of nurse aides and registered nurses at each facility, without addressing 1) the financial impact of that new requirement or 2) the reality of an ongoing workforce shortage that has already led multiple facilities in Oklahoma to close.
“For months, the White House has been signaling their plan is to mandate that nursing homes hire staffers that do not exist with money they do not have,” said Care Providers Oklahoma President and CEO Steven Buck. “This is an impossible proposition that has gone from a bad idea to a federal rule with the force of law. We are sounding the alarm that this policy will absolutely lead to closures, displaced residents, and the loss of quality care for elderly and vulnerable populations.”
Care Providers Oklahoma estimates the new rule requires the average facility to hire two to three new registered nurses at a cost approaching $17 per Medicaid resident per day. Total costs associated with new hires for Oklahoma’s nursing homes will be as much as $76 million annually.
Currently, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority already estimates that nursing homes are funded at $44 per Medicaid resident per day under the projected cost-of-care. The Biden staffing mandate expands that funding gap to upwards of $61 per Medicaid resident per day.
“Oklahoma homes have already been closing at a rapid clip because we are not funded at the cost-of-care,” said Buck. “That is going to increase at an even faster rate, especially in rural areas, unless we can get some help.”
See the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s list of recent closures here.
Buck said that Care Providers Oklahoma was taking the following steps to protect its residents:
1. Asking the Oklahoma Legislature to increase funding to a level equal to the OHCA’s projected cost-of-care;
2. Supporting the federal “Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act,” a bill that would block implementation of the new mandate;
3. Educating the public on the devastating impact that the Biden mandate would have on Oklahoma’s vulnerable seniors.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has already signed a letter, along with 14 other governors opposing the mandate.
Senator Lankford has also spoken out against the mandate and its impact on rural facilities.

Iru Daugherty

(Right) 100 years old. Tulsa – Moved to Tulsa in 1987 to work at Victory Church, her son Pastor Billy Joe asked her to “love on people.” She has had an interesting life with wonderful people & is so grateful for good friends. Her words of wisdom to younger people: “Follow the Lord. Trust in the Lord. Listen to Him. Believe in Him!”

Mildred Cox

(Left) 100 years old. Broken Arrow – Mildred was born in Kentucky but is now a Golden Okie. Mildred was the cashier at Ted & Debbie’s Flower & Garden before retiring in 2017. She loves God and her Family.

Dewey Muirhead

(Right) 100 years old. Wewoka – Served in the Army Air Corps as Military Police (MP) and loved his motorcycle. He cooks himself a big breakfast everyday, enjoys old Western swing music and likes antique car shows. His life advice to others: “Work hard; have fun; love your family and make memories!”

Velma Oliver

(Right) 100 years old. Claremore – Her husband was military so they traveled all over the country & lived in Jurupa Valley, CA for several years. She was a farmer, homemaker, mother & housekeeper, so she never really retired. She enjoys Mexican food & gardening & volunteered at the Salvation Army.

by Marise Boehs, staff writer

“While traditional stretching methods attempt to make you more “flexible,” we work to adjust the stretch reflex, gradually increasing your active range of motion,” explained Christian Hanly, General Manager of the Stretch Zone, Chatenay Square location.

Stretch Zone’s isolation of individual muscles breaks up tissue glue, unwrapping the stranglehold on posture and valuable energy. Proper stretching slows down the aging process. Improved posture, circulation, and range of motion can be achieved at the stretch studio.
Different from stretching at home, practitioner-assisted stretching is a personalized routine performed by trained practitioners. Using our patented strapping system and proprietary tables to position, stabilize, and isolate muscles, our certified staff delivers a life-changing stretch experience to help you move efficiently and effortlessly. Simply put, we do all the work, you get all the benefits.
Thanks to the modern sedentary lifestyle, starting our 30s we begin losing flexibility at an average rate of 1% a year. Strains and micro-stresses on muscles compounded over time can glue them together. This “glue,” or scar tissue, tightens the surrounding tissue and restrains how we are able to move. Over time, the snowballing loss of flexibility ages us. Stretch Zone’s isolation of individual muscles within a muscle group breaks up the glue, unwrapping the stranglehold on our posture and valuable energy. Proper stretching slows down the aging process. We can feel younger by improving posture, circulation, and increasing range of motion.
Due to sedentary lifestyles and overworked, stressed muscles, we develop residual tension in resting muscle, or “tonus.” When we flex a muscle, we create excessive tonus in the muscle. A certain amount of resting muscle tonus is necessary to keep form and posture. But when we have excessive resting tonus, it becomes harder to move. Many people walk around with stiff muscles, and it’s not from the gym. Working with an experienced practitioner at one of the Stretch Zone studios can reestablish a more ideal resting muscle tone, relieving stiffness and soreness through active stretching.
“Our goal isn’t to make you more “flexible” or “elastic,” it is to increase your active range of motion, so that you can move further without feeling a stretch by reeducating the nerve-muscle reflex, allowing you to move easier” Hanly said.
Call today to schedule a free demo.
Chatenay Square, 10600 South Pennsylvania Avenue Suite 5, 405-445-6700 North Penn, 5629 North Pennsylvania Ave, 405-242-3428
OPENING IN MAY
309 S. Bryant, Edmond

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SIDEBAR:
Pro-Athletes and Stretch Zone
Stretch Zone has enjoyed helping many pro-athletes reach their athletic best – in the NFL, NBA, MLB, & ATP. This includes sports celebrities from the U.S. Open Champion, the NFL’s Most Valuable Player, and even the IBF Light Heavyweight Champion of the world.
Athletes can improve spatial awareness, increase reaction time, and improve range of motion. Stretch Zone works with the nervous system to achieve lasting flexibility gains and has helped a variety of people from all backgrounds and ages, including pro athletes and celebrities, reach their athletic best. Practitioner-assisted stretching shouldn’t only be applied as a warmup or cool down exercise.
Athletes who are introduced to practitioner-assisted stretching learn their body’s limitations and increase spatial awareness. Increased spatial awareness allows you to better assess the state of your muscles and injuries, and also provides a sense of control and confidence, ultimately determining peak performance.

“Having embraced stretching as a vital part of my fitness regimen, Stretch Zone’s method proved to be the missing piece in my journey. It took my understanding of the benefits to a whole new level,” said Brees. “Stretch Zone showcased the transformative potential of their patented system. What truly captivated me was its universal applicability, tailored to meet the diverse needs of a variety of individuals.” Drew Brees, former NFL quarterback, as published in Franchising Magazine USA

Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy are proud to announce rewarding an Oklahoma woman $2,000 for definitive information that led to the identification of the individual seen in a video published by media repeatedly stomping and killing a puppy in late March outside a business in southeast Oklahoma City.
Sarah Looney of Oklahoma City is receiving the reward for turning in her ex-boyfriend, Larry Don McMillan, 57, who was arrested last week for cruelty to animals and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Looney talked to Animal Wellness Action by phone from Oklahoma City.
“I love animals and I didn’t know [Larry] was like that. He was never mean to my big dog. But then he started getting that way (abusive) to me and then my puppy,” said Looney, who is a domestic abuse survivor. “People like that need to get help or not be let out of prison. I am glad he is locked up for what he did to animals, and for what he had done to me.”
Animal Wellness Action and Center for a Humane Economy will often offer rewards for critical tips to prosecute perpetrators of animal abuse that may be sent directly to OKcrueltytips@animalwellnessaction.org.
“We are grateful to Sarah for stepping up because as you can see, anyone who would do this is a danger to animals and people alike,” said Kevin Chambers, Oklahoma State Director for Animal Wellness Action. “Animal Wellness Action wants to help the Oklahoma City Police identify perpetrators of this type of heinous animal cruelty and bring them to justice.”
“Cruelty to animals is despicable in its own right, but we also know that people who do awful things to animals often turn their violent instincts against spouses, girlfriends, children, or other members of the community,” said Wayne Pacelle, President of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. “Sarah Looney exhibited great courage in providing a service to the community.”
In this case, animal welfare officials and local officers said the man now identified had carried the puppy down the street by its back legs, dragging its nose on the pavement.
Following the beating, the video showed the man picking the puppy up and throwing it on the ground before he leaves. The city’s animal welfare superintendent broke down the video for local news stations after it was shared Tuesday by OKCPD.
Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy also provide rewards, up to $2,500, for animal cruelty tips, including for dogfighting and cockfighting. Tips go to animalcrueltytips@animalwellnessaction.org

By Marilyn Olson, Executive Director, VillagesOKC

During the 3,691 days that my mother lived with us, there were hundreds of really good days, a few bummers, two or three frightening days and a lot of just ordinary days. Sandwiched in between were some that stood out because they made us laugh until we cried. Today, we laugh all the more when the story is retold. It was one of those that made us say, “You can’t make this stuff up; you gotta laugh.”
It was near the year-end holidays. My friend had given me an “Alexa” for Christmas. (You know, that’s the electronic voice-activated gadget everyone was buying in 2009.) After opening, she was eager to tell me all of its amazing features. She wanted me to know all about how it helps her keep a grocery list, tells the weather for the day, and even orders on Amazon. She was so eager to set it up and show me that she asked my Amazon password and placed a “pretend” order, before submitting – or so I thought.
That next week a small Amazon Prime package arrived; it was a slender bottle of lotion. Although I do not use Avon, I decided to put it away because Mother always is looking for hand cream and it would make a good gift for Mother’s Day. And besides, I hate returning things.
Five months after my friend had made the erroneous Avon order, I presented Mother with the gift of hand cream. Since she already had bottles of lotion open, she put it aside waiting until fall to begin to use it in preparation for a doctor’s visit. It had a delightful fragrance. “I can always use another bottle of lotion,” she said.
The monthly appointment with the doctor was uneventful, and afterwards, we went to Braum’s as usual to celebrate having a good checkup. The doctor applauded that she was walking regularly outdoors even though the days were getting cooler. “Great for Vitamin D,” the doctor said.
We were very busy preparing for Thanksgiving when all the family would be there. Mother said, “I’m really concerned about what is happening to my hands, neck and face. I wonder if you’d call Dr. Craven and see if the nurse can work me in for an appointment.”
When I investigated, Mother was worried about her skin’s yellowish tinge on both hands. Looking more closely, the faint yellowish pallor was even more apparent in the daylight. Mother was a worrier and thought she was jaundiced. And even though I didn’t let her know, I had concerns too. (She stayed very aware of her healthcare lab reports and watched her kidney numbers meticulously.) But it didn’t make sense because there were NO other symptoms.
After two more days of “apparent jaundice” but no other symptoms, I began to seriously investigate yet trying not to worry her.
“Mother, what bottle of lotion have you been using?”
“That one,” she said as she pointed to the bottle on the nightstand.
I picked it up to read the fragrance. It was the Avon bottle I had presented on Mother’s Day. For the first time I read the label aloud, and we both burst out laughing.
“Oh, my goodness! Mother, this is tanning lotion, Avon’s Golden Tanning Lotion. You aren’t jaundiced, you just have a golden tan. Guess I’ll cancel that doctor’s appointment and buy a swimsuit fit for a 98-year-old instead.”
We couldn’t wait to tell the family. And we all laughed until the tears came.

by Bobby Anderson, RN – staff writer

A new hospital is emerging on the Oklahoma City skyline.
The six-story Integris Health Heart Hospital is moving towards its June completion date and hiring is continuing.
The 209,000-square-foot building will include 64 ICU beds, multiple cardiac catheterization labs, cardiovascular operating rooms, hybrid operating rooms, electrophysiology heart labs, and convenient cardiac diagnostic testing areas. It sits on the campus of Integris Baptist.
An onsite coffee shop that features a full menu of breakfast, lunch and, craft coffee in partnership with locally owned Ends of the Earth (EOTE) Coffee Company will also be included.
“We have long been known as the only hospital in Oklahoma to offer a full spectrum of advanced cardiac care from diagnosis to heart transplantation, and the new heart hospital will allow us to continue to offer the best heart care available anywhere in the world,” says Jeffrey Sparling, M.D., an interventional cardiologist and president of Integris Health Cardiovascular Physicians. “This tower is proof of our commitment to improve the heart health of Oklahomans now and for many generations to come.”
Integris Health is actively recruiting for a variety of positions.
Kelsey Behm, BSN, RN, CCRN, MBA is the director of nursing for the Integris Heart Hospital.
She came to Integris in 2012 and worked as a nurse tech before starting her nursing career in the transplant ICU. ECMO and cardiothoracic ICU roles followed.
“This has been a long time coming. We are so excited,” she said. “We are very quickly approaching the opening date but this heart hospital and critical care tower will be part of Baptist Medical Center. What we are able to do is expand cardiac care and services that we offer.
“What’s really awesome is we will be moving all of our cardiac diagnostics, procedural and, surgery areas into this new state-of-the-art building as well as our cardiothoracic intensive care unit and have additional critical care beds and an abdominal transplant ICU.”
If it sounds like a lot of moving parts, there are.
Behm said more than a year of planning has gone into the move.
“So many different teams of people, departments, different disciplines,” Behm said. “It really is bringing a lot together. We have a team of people that on a weekly basis track progress and make sure the project is running on plan.”
Even though construction is ongoing, frontline caregivers were able to tour the facility in early February.
“They’ve been excited but to actually see it, feel it and walk through it they were all really proud and excited for the new building,” Behm said. “What we have now, the infrastructure has its challenges. Walking into this new (building) with big rooms and windows … they were just really excited. They have a lot of pride in it. It was really a great day.”
A larger facility means more staff positions. Behm said positions are available up and down the service line.
“We are actively recruiting to grow our team. Anything from pre-op, surgical admitting, PACU that’s all going to be dedicated to cardiac, we are building those teams from the ground up.”
Cath lab, CVOR, cardiothoracic ICU, abdominal transplant and, critical care teams are also being built.

Edmond Mobile Meals is proud to announce its 50th anniversary of serving the Edmond community this month.
Established in 1974, Edmond Mobile Meals delivered its first six meals on April 22. Seven local churches donated $25 each and provided volunteer support to help the program get started. Since that first day, the nonprofit organization has delivered over 1.2 million meals to the homebound elderly and disabled residents in Edmond. Today, Edmond Mobile Meals delivers an average of 275 meals each weekday, 120 weekend meals, and an average of 50 meals for the Edmond Senior Center’s congregate lunch. Over 400 dedicated volunteers assist in preparing and packaging meals each weekday and delivering meals across 100 square miles of Edmond. A program record of over 73,000 meals were delivered last year.
Edmond Mobile Meals is the only organization that provides daily nourishing meals and wellness checks to the homebound residents of the community. The organization provides these services regardless of an individual’s ability to pay for the service. Clients are accepted into the program based only on need.
“Our primary mission is to make sure that no senior in Edmond ever goes hungry or feels forgotten,” said Executive Director, Cristi Twenter. To prepare for the anticipated increase in need for home-delivered meals for seniors, the organization in partnership with the City of Edmond is in the midst of an infrastructure expansion that will result in triple the capacity of meals that can be prepared each day. Twenter continues, “The aging population is surging and will double in the next decade. We are determined to make sure Edmond Mobile Meals is ready to meet the needs of Edmond’s seniors now and in the future.”
“We provide more than just a meal,” Twenter says. “The friendly volunteers who deliver our meals may be the only human contact some clients have each day. We know that social isolation and loneliness are extremely detrimental for homebound individuals. Real friendships are developed between our volunteers and clients. These relationships have a dramatically positive impact on our clients’ health and allows them to remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible.”
In honor of this milestone anniversary, Edmond Mobile Meals asks for support of their endowment fund held at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. Any gift made to this campaign will receive permanent recognition on a Legacy Wall that will be featured in the organization’s renovated building. Twenter says, “When you donate to our endowment fund, you are giving a gift to our future. Your contribution today will give back to Edmond’s most vulnerable residents forever. It is a wonderful opportunity to honor loved ones, current or former clients, or volunteers.” To donate in celebration Edmond Mobile Meals 50th Anniversary, visit https://edmondmobilemeals.org/donate, or mail a check payable to the Oklahoma City Community Foundation with “fbo Edmond Mobile Meals” on the memo line. The address is 1000 N. Broadway Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102.

Planned gifts can also be made to the Edmond Mobile Meals endowment fund. Commonly, these are donated through a will or trust. For more information about planned giving to Edmond Mobile Meals, please contact Cristi Twenter at cristi@edmondmobilemeals.org.

Like with homeowners insurance, the cost of car insurance has steadily increased over the past few years. We at the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) understand the frustration Oklahomans experience when they see higher coverage costs. Remember some factors that determine premiums, such as your age and location, cannot be changed. However, there are still things you can do to lower the amount on your insurance bill. This month, I want to share some tips and information on how you can save money on car insurance.
Shop around.
This is the biggest advice I can give anyone unhappy with their current coverage or looking for coverage. It can be time-consuming, but it can save you hundreds of dollars annually. Get multiple quotes from different insurance companies to see who can offer the coverage you need at the right price. Also, keep in mind that you do not have to do this by yourself. Talk to an independent agent who can get you multiple estimates and review coverage options with you. It’s important always to research companies and see what quality of service they provide and to see if they have an extensive history of complaints because cheaper coverage might come with higher costs in other areas.
Adjust your coverage to meet your needs.
I want to preface this by saying your coverage should meet your needs. In Oklahoma, you must by law carry bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need additional coverage. It’s better to have more coverage than to be underinsured. Go through your policy with your agent to see what you need and what you can reduce or change. If you have no claims and don’t drive much, increasing your deductible can save you hundreds a year. If your vehicle is older and your premium is a considerable portion of its value, check to see if you still need to maintain collision and comprehensive coverages, and consider moving to liability-only coverage.
Check out discounts.
Contact your insurance company to see which discounts are available to you. Small discounts can add up and make a difference with your premium. The discounts vary from company to company, but you might be eligible for discounts for safe driving, low mileage, paperless billing, or having anti-theft devices, to name a few. Some companies offer good student discounts, which are helpful if you have a teen driver on your policy, and military discounts for active duty or retired service members. Bundling your auto policy with your homeowners or renters policy can also help you save.
Maintain a good driving record.
Accidents and tickets for careless or reckless driving will cause your insurance premiums to increase, but having a clear driving history can go a long way in helping to reduce costs. In Oklahoma, insurance companies can look at the past three years of your driving record to help determine premiums. Some companies offer discounts for taking defensive driving courses. Similarly, if you’re a cautious driver, many insurance companies have telematics programs where they track your driving via a small device in your car, which can result in lower costs.
Determine if minor damage is worth filing a claim.
If you are involved in an accident with another driver, you must submit a collision report and begin the process of filing a claim. However, if you have minor damage that doesn’t involve another vehicle or driver, like scrapes or dings, it may be in your best interest not to file a claim if you can weather it from a financial standpoint. Still, we recommend getting an estimate before deciding to file a claim for minor damage because, in some cases, what might seem minor could be more extensive or expensive, especially as automakers outfit vehicles with the latest technology.
Car insurance costs have increased over the past several years, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save money. Being an informed shopper and taking an active role in your insurance needs can help reduce your costs by hundreds of dollars. Don’t forget that OID is here to help. If you have any questions about car insurance, contact us at 800-522-0071 or online at oid.ok.gov. Additionally, I recommend checking out our Insurance Basics and Auto Insurance Common Myths pages for helpful information.

For the first time in 50 years, Mercy will welcome new life and care for women in a new women’s center on the campus of Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City. The Love Family Women’s Center opened April 7, offering a host of new services for families and women of all ages.
Nearly half, or $43 million, of the $98 million project was funded by philanthropy, including a $10 million donation from the Tom and Judy Love family, making Mercy’s decade-long dream a reality.
The hospital’s labor and delivery and postpartum services have been at capacity for years, limiting Mercy’s ability to serve more patients. The Love Family Women’s Center has 15 large labor and delivery rooms, seven antepartum rooms, 47 postpartum rooms and three cesarean section rooms with pre- and post-operative recovery rooms. The additional space allows Mercy to increase from 4,000 to 6,000 births annually.
An obstetrics emergency department staffed by obstetricians who can address urgent pregnancy-related concerns will be open 24/7. This ER is the first of its kind in Oklahoma City.
“Pregnancy is such a vulnerable time for women. We know those sudden onset symptoms can be scary, and patients want to be seen quickly to be sure mom and baby are okay,” said Dr. Tori O’Daniel, obstetrician hospitalist and chair of obstetrics and gynecology Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City. “Our obstetrics ER will be there to provide immediate access for patients who are at least 20 weeks pregnant or up to six weeks postpartum. Patients are seen by obstetrician hospitalists who are physician experts in pregnancy, giving them peace of mind.”
The state’s first hospital-based low intervention birth unit is also located on the first floor of the Love Family Women’s Center. This unique space has four large labor and delivery suites, each with a queen-size bed and labor tub. Care for mom and baby will be led by a Mercy certified nurse midwife in a space designed to give families a natural, home-like experience just steps away from a higher level of care in the event of an emergency.
The center connects to the hospital via a sky bridge. This allows moms of babies needing a higher level of care to have quick, direct elevator access to Mercy’s neonatal intensive care unit on the fifth floor.
“The work we do is truly sacred, and the Love Family Women’s Center is such a special place to serve families,” said Laura Beck, Mercy’s executive director of nursing for women and infant services. “Our physicians and nurses helped design this building based on what is best for patients. Our teams have been working to develop programs and processes to best serve families and provide a safe, warm, welcoming and comfortable experience they’ll feel when they walk in the door.”
The center also houses outpatient services for women including appointments with lactation experts and a midwifery clinic where Mercy’s certified nurse midwives will provide care from pre-conception to early pregnancy, prenatal health, delivery and beyond.
An outpatient pelvic floor therapy department staffed by highly trained female physical therapists is also located on the first floor. The clinic has a therapy gym and four private consultation rooms to serve women of all ages and stages experiencing pelvic pain, urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, chronic constipation and more.
The center, the result of the largest fundraising campaign in Mercy’s history, has been made possible by a long list of generous donors who funded nearly half of the project. In addition to the lead donation from the Love family, campaign co-chairs Judy Love and Cathy Keating led the way in raising more than $33 million additional dollars for a donation total of $43.5 million.
“This campaign was led by women, for generations of women to come and there could be no better campaign co-chairs than Judy Love and Cathy Keating,” said Lori Cummins, vice president of Mercy Health Foundation communities. “They took this project head on just three months before a worldwide pandemic brought economic uncertainty, but it didn’t stop the enormous outpouring of support from our community and beyond. We could not be more grateful.”