Health and Wellness

The Three Rivers Health Board announced Friday CEO Bill Russell has tendered his resignation. Board chairman Larry Clark said David Shannon will step in as interim CEO effective immediately. Russell has been with the hospital for nine years, succeeding Matt Chambers after Chambers stepped down in July 2009. Shannon, meanwhile, has most recently served as transitional president and CEO of …

Members of the Constantine Village Council this week reviewed the most recent draft of an ordinance allowing medical marijuana facilities to operate in the village. The council set a special meeting for 7 p.m. Tuesday, when council members will consider a resolution to permit medical marijuana facilities. Michigan’s new medical marijuana licensing system begins Dec. 15. The state will accept licensing …

Vaccine waiver rates for school-age children have increased slightly in Michigan. The Detroit News reports that Department of Health and Human Services data shows 3.2 percent of kindergartners and seventh-graders received immunization waivers in 2016 compared to 3.1 percent the year before. The immunization rate was 4.8 percent in 2014. Since 2015, the state has required parents to attend educational …

Three Rivers Health is pleased to announce our Employees of the Quarter for the third quarter of 2017. The honorees are Jody Alger, Engineer Tech II, Plant Operations; Michael Bylsma, DPT, Outpatient Physical Therapy; Julianne Downes, RDN, Clinical Dietician; Dawn Kolbe, RN, Ambulatory Surgery; and Chris Menz, RT, Cardiopulmonary. Three Rivers Health Employee of the Quarter awards took plave on …

Sturgis Sleep Disorder Center in Sturgis recently received program accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Sturgis Hospital Sleep Disorder Center is directed by Bharat Vakharia, MD, and is located at 916 Myrtle St. Dr. Ashish Verma is also certified in Sleep Medicine. “The American Academy of Sleep Medicine congratulates Sturgis Sleep Disorder Center on meeting the high …

The Three Rivers Health Auxiliary team has announced five area recipients to receive its annual medical scholarship award. Receiving $1,000 scholarships are Andrew Coney of Three Rivers, Maegan Saunders and Brittney Baechler of White Pigeon, Erin Garbine of Sturgis and Lindsay Walker of Marcellus. The Three Rivers Health Auxiliary has continued its tradition of naming medical-scholarship award winners over the …

Members of the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Board of St. Joseph County terminated the agency’s executive director Tuesday. The board cited four points that its members said constitute cause for the termination of Liz O’Dell. The 68-year-old O’Dell has been with the agency more than 20 years, the past 10 as its director. Board member Kathy Pangle made …

THREE RIVERS, MI – Three Rivers Health is pleased to announce our Employees of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2017. The honorees are Bonnie Broadhurst, Exercise Physiologist, Cardiac Rehab; Jeri Halon, Lab Assistant; Theresa Montmorency, MS, RD, Nutritional Services; Ed Stevens, Housekeeper II; and Mindy Williams, Housekeeper I. Three Rivers Health Employee of the Quarter awards took place …

Local health officials say there is no concern to the general population for any health-related hazards or risks associated with lingering smoke from last week’s Mottville Township fire. The fire at Green Stream Recycling began June 26 and has affected an area of about 15 acres. Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has been in contact with the Kalamazoo district office …

In observance of the National HIV Testing Day, The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency encourages you to get tested for HIV. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) the condition caused by the HIV virus if left untreated. This year National HIV Testing Day will take place on Tuesday June 27th, 2017. Why should …