SATURDAY, SEP TEMBER 19, 2020 • KOKOMO TR I BUNE PROGRESS EDI T ION
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FROM STAFF REPORTS
Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo
has made many strides in 2020.
They include:
KOKOMO HOWARD
WELLNESS CENTER
The Kokomo Howard Well-
ness Center, recently opened on
Sept. 1, now provides more than
800 Kokomo city and Howard
County employees and their
dependent family members
with access to preventative and
wellness services. A variety of
services are offered including
preventative care, chronic dis-
ease management, nutritional
counseling and behavioral
healthcare. Located at 317 S.
Berkley Road, the new center is
staffed with a full-time medical
team including a doctor, nurse
practitioner, nurses and coun-
selors for mental health and
nutrition.
CANCER CENTER
RENOVATED, EXPANDS
The Ascension St. Vincent
Kokomo Cancer Center is under-
going renovation and expansion
to offer comprehensive cancer
care with a state-of-the-art lin-
ear accelerator - a device used to
send radiation into cancer cells,
a new PET scanner - used to
diagnose and locate cancer cells,
new exam rooms, new infusion
bays, expanded waiting areas
and a newly created healing/
reflection garden.
The center provides 10,000
treatments annually to residents
of Kokomo and surrounding
areas, and receives 500 new
patients each year.
The total project cost is $8
million, with $6 million coming
from Ascension. The remain-
ing $2 million is being raised
through the “Together We Give
Hope” capital campaign.
To learn more about the proj-
ect and how to become part of
giving hope to the Ascension St.
Vincent Kokomo Cancer Center
patients, visit give.stvincent.
org/kokomocancercenter or call
the foundation at 765-456-5406.
ACUTE REHABILITATION
UNIT AND OUTPATIENT
REHABILITATION
SERVICES
Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo’s
Acute Rehabilitation Unit [ARU]
offers an inpatient rehab facility
within the safety and convenience
of a hospital setting. ARU’s team
of nurses, physical therapists,
occupational therapists, and
speech-language therapists care
for, treat and strengthen patients
from a wide variety of conditions
including neurologic illnesses,
strokes, multiple sclerosis, Par-
kinson’s disease, spinal surgeries,
trauma, head injuries, amputa-
tions, orthopedic issues and
extended hospital stays from seri-
ous illness.
Outpatient rehab services are
also offered at three locations.
CARDIOLOGY
Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo
features a newly renovated
Cardiovascular Department,
with superior imaging technol-
ogy and capabilities. A nuclear
camera is integrated with com-
puted tomography (CT), which
increases detail for improved
interpretation during a nuclear
cardiac scan. Echo Ultrasound
units have the latest software
with capabilities for 3D imag-
ing and fine detailed image
capture.
These components together
provide a clean environment
and exceptional level of care.
HOMEGROWN SURGEON
Dr. Cody Shafer, who grew
up on a small farm outside of
Kokomo, opened up an ortho-
pedic practice at Ascension St.
Vincent Kokomo in August after
finishing his schooling to serve
patients in his own community.
Shafer had a passion as a child
for the equipment and machin-
ery used on his family farm,
and found similarities with the
machinery used in orthopedic
surgery.
He joined Ascension’s ortho-
pedic specialists who provide
leading care in joint replace-
ment, with advanced care for
bone and muscle conditions,
including bone fractures.
MAKING BIG STRIDES
ASCENSION ST. VINCENT OFFERS STATE-OF-THE-ART TREATMENT
HEALTH
SPOTLIGHT
A sign in front of St. Vincent hospital
on April 7 salutes employees.
(Kokomo Tribune file photo)
Nurse Practitioner Ashley Brown
works in the pharmacy at the
new clinic serving city and county employees.
This is an examination room
at the city of Kokomo and Howard
County employees new clinic shown here on Sept. 1, 2020.
Silver Birch of Kokomo is a commu-
nity. But not just any community. It’s
one that makes quality assisted-living
affordable for everyone because Silver
Birch believes older adults should have
an inspired life no matter their financial
situation.
THE COMMUNITY
The Silver Birch community opened in
May 2018 at the intersection of Washing-
ton Street and Park Avenue in downtown
Kokomo. It boasts 119 thoughtfully
designed apartments, including both
studio and one-bedroom options.
All residents live in a private apartment
with a kitchenette, bedroom, bathroom,
individual heat and A/C controls, and
emergency alert system.
Such private accommodations, though,
don’t dampen the spirit of community
at Silver Birch. Its wellness services,
activity programming, and beautifully
appointed common areas are designed
to help residents feel energized and sup-
ported.
Each of the building’s four stories
features several appealing special-use
common areas, giving residents full
access to a theater, library, lounges and
even an arts & crafts room.
Those common areas regularly play
host to social, recreational and wellness
programming aimed at keeping residents
engaged and active. At the helm of those
activities is a director of resident engage-
ment whose mission is to keep everyone
moving and busy.
“We want to make every moment
count,” said Courtney Beckom, Silver
Birch marketing director. “As we age,
sometimes people lose that need or
drive to keep doing the activities that
keep them young. Our sole goal is keep-
ing people young at heart.”
While Silver Birch promotes social
connections with family, friends, and
neighbors, it also facilitates participation
with the surrounding community.
A HELPING HAND
As a Silver Birch resident, you receive a
helping hand or personal attention to do
the activities you may no longer be able
to do safely on your own. Services include
self-care assistance, regular health moni-
toring, medication management, 24-hour
staff assistance, weekly house cleaning
and weekly laundry.
Residents receive three restaurant-
style meals and snacks daily. Food
choices are selected through the MIND
Diet systemwhich zeroes in on the foods
that specifically affect brain health. The
nutrition plan aims to lower the risk of
mental decline.
And you’ll never be surprised with
unexpected fees for any service at Silver
Birch.
Providing all the right services and
amenities in one place and without
additional fees aims to make life easier
so residents can focus on what matters
most — staying engaged, active, and con-
nected.
“Why struggle alone for an hour just
to put your clothes on?” Beckom said.
“We help accomplish such daily tasks in
a mere couple of minutes, leaving you the
other 58 to do something more meaning-
ful with your life.”
To learn more about the Silver Birch
community, call 765-868-7266 or visit
silverbirchliving.com
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Inspiring purposeful lives
for all at Silver Birch
