HEALTH BRIEFS

Survivor Day event set

The Central Oklahoma Suicide Prevention Task Force will host an event Saturday for people who lost a loved one to suicide as part of Survivor Day.

Sheila Stinnett, who works at Edmond Family Counseling, will speak. The event also will include a short film, a discussion and a balloon release.

The program will start at noon at the University of Central Oklahoma Center of Forensic Science, 701 E Second St., Edmond.

For more information, email trisha@namioklahoma.org.

Academy seeks applications

The Oklahoma Aging Advocacy Leadership Academy is accepting applications for its 2019 class.

The class will meet monthly on Friday evenings and Saturdays, February through November, at 50 NE 23. Applications must be postmarked by Dec. 31.

For more information, call the Department of Human Services’ aging services office, 405-521-2281.

Lab business opens

Nations Laboratory Services LLC recently opened a new location in Tecumseh, in cooperation with the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.

Owner Steve Weddle, a member of the tribe, said the lab can test for a broad base of viruses, bacteria and parasites within 24 hours. The idea is that quick results can help doctors choose the right drugs for patients.

Nations can bill Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance.

Nursing homes recognized

The American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living gave its Bronze Awards for quality to four Oklahoma nursing homes.

Those that were recognized were Broadway Manor, Muskogee; Eastgate Village, Muskogee; Fort Gibson Nursing Home; and The Suites at Elmbrook, Ardmore. The awards recognize efforts to improve care quality.

Integris Edmond names board

Integris Health Edmond announced its board of directors for fiscal year 2019.

Randy Stafford serves as chairman, Janet Yowell is vice chairwoman and William Smith is secretary.

Other members are Mitzi Hancuff, Rita Aragon, Dr. Julie Hansen, Peter Dobelbower, Kim Swyden, Ray Hibbard, Dr. William Smith and Dr. Terry Allen. Each member will serve a threeyear term.

Oklahoma doctors honored

Two optometrists from Oklahoma were inducted into the National Optometry Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Dr. David Cockrell, of Stillwater, previously served as president of the American Optometric Association and the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians, and has testified before Congress about quality standards.

Dr. Lesley Walls, from Tulsa, led the push to allow optometrists to prescribe medications and perform surgeries starting in the 1960s. He previously served as associate dean of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in Tulsa.