News

Safe Sitter Training Offered at BSA

BSA is offering Safe Sitter® training to local middle school students this summer. The Safe Sitter® training program is the only national non-profit devoted to preparing children to be safe in unsupervised settings, whether home alone, sibling sitting or babysitting.

The Safe Sitter® course provides kids ages 11 to 14 with the skills to be better, safer sitters. Safe Sitter® courses are instructor-led and interactive.

The following topics will be covered during each course:

Losing 160 Pounds to Gain a Healthier Lifestyle

Weighing in at 343 pounds, Braxton Bjork experienced daily joint pain, difficulty standing for extended periods of time, high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. On July 20, 2017, Bjork made a life-changing decision to improve his health through bariatric surgery at BSA Hospital. Less than two years since surgery, Bjork has experienced an overall weight loss of 160 pounds.

Find Out How Your BMI Affects Your Health at the BSA Care Fair

Do you know your Body Mass Index? If you don’t, you should.

Understanding your Body Mass Index (BMI) and managing a healthy weight can help you lead a long and healthy life. BMI determines your level of body fat and is used as a screening tool for determining if a person is overweight or obese. Nearly 70 percent of American adults are either overweight or obese. Being obese puts you at a higher risk for serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, sleep disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes and more.

Helping the Homeless, One Meal at a Time

More than 25,000 people in Texas are homeless on any given day, according to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. BSA Amarillo Diagnostic Clinic Medical Lab Technicians, Jeff Parker and Mike Reeves, who work in the BSA Amarillo Diagnostic Clinic Facility Services department, prepare and deliver food to the homeless in Amarillo every day.

Nutrition’s Vital Role in Cancer Treatment

BSA Harrington Cancer Center offers every patient access to personalized nutrition services to help them stay well-nourished. Proper nutrition is an important part of cancer treatment, according to Whitney Warminski, RD, CSO, LD. Warminski specializes in oncology nutrition at BSA Harrington Cancer Center.

“Good nutrition improves quality of life,” Warminski explained. “Patients who have a good nutrition status during cancer treatments tend to have fewer complications and experience less toxicities from treatment.”

A Mother’s Stay at BSA Through Her Son’s Eyes

Tuesday mornings are special for Michael Fox and Linda Hinders.

The siblings visit their mother, Marianne, at Palo Duro Retirement Village in Canyon.

“Every Tuesday we have coffee with her and her friends,” shared Fox. Marianne, 78, lives a self-sustaining and moderately active lifestyle at Palo Duro Retirement Village.

One Tuesday morning in early February, Hinders noticed her mother was not downstairs for their weekly coffee date and went to check on her.

BSA Named One of the Nation’s Top 100 Hospitals®

Sleep Soundly Without Insomnia

Are you experiencing sleepless nights? Insomnia may be the root cause, with approximately one in four Americans developing insomnia each year. Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Symptoms of insomnia include difficulty falling asleep, waking up during the night or too early, not feeling well-rested after, daytime fatigue or sleepiness, depression, anxiety, difficulty paying attention, focusing on tasks or remembering, increased errors and ongoing worries about sleep.

Getting a Colonoscopy Screening Could be a Life-Saving Decision

In recognition of National Colorectal Cancer Month, Gastroenterology Specialist at BSA Amarillo Diagnostic Clinic, Dr. James Lusby, encourages everyone 50 and older to be screened regularly.

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer among men and women in the United States and takes more than 50,000 lives each year. If those 50 years and older were screened regularly, as many as 60 percent of deaths from colorectal cancer could be avoided.

Social Media's Impact on Eating Disorders

The statistics are alarming: At least 30 million people suffer from an eating disorder in the United States.

“The truth is, eating disorders are becoming more and more common and can affect an individual from any sex, age, race and economic class,” said Mary Ann Osborn, a Registered Dietitian at BSA Outpatient Therapy Services.