Today's Feature

McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital

offers "Valet Service".

Patients, guests and visitors at McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital are getting the red carpet treatment with the addition of a new service started earlier this year. Valet parking offers patients and visitors the convenience of pulling up to the main entrance, dropping the keys with the Valet and proceeding on to their appointment, procedure, patient visit or even to visit the Pink Rose Gift Shop. According to Bob Copeland, CEO of MBRH, valet parking services fit the hospital’s philosophy of patient-centered care. "Visiting a hospital should not be a chore to be dreaded; in some cases just walking into the hospital is difficult, let alone braving the elements to park your car. Our intent is to give our patients, guests and visitors the upmost personalized care… and it begins in the parking lot," said Copeland.

Valet Parking at McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital is free and includes extra touches such as bringing the car up front, having the doors opened for the guests and helping them into the hospital; the service is available from 7 in the morning to 5 in the evening. All services are accessible from the main entrance and the Ambassadors are available to help as well. The service is provided by a grant through the MBRH Healthcare Foundation.

"We are committed to providing the very best service to our patients and valet parking adds a touch of luxury to everyone’s day," said Bob Fitzpatrick, MBRH Support Services Director.

Mornin'

I’ve always wondered how they gather the information used in makin’ those maps showin’ general attitudes in the different regions. The ones showin’ the percentage of voters turnin’ out is prob’ly fairly.

I saw one the other day that showed where folks lived that thought they were gettin’ enough sleep. How do they figure that, call folks in the middle of the night and ask if they are awake? ‘Course I was interested to see that nearly the whole state of Missouri, except for the K.C and St. Louis area, felt rested most of the time. The map showed Kansas and Oklahoma feelin’ a little tired more often.

The real question is exactly what does it all mean. A good portion of Florida also reported a restful state. I don’t know if it means we are efficient or just lazy.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Here’s A Tip

By JoAnn Derson

• Go Green Tip: Unplug battery chargers or power adapters that aren’t in use. They might not be actively charging an item, but they do draw power.

• Let’s say you’re making soup and go overboard with the salt. Not a problem if you have an extra potato lying around. Just wash and quarter the potato and toss it into the soup. Let it simmer in the soup for 10 or so minutes, then remove. It will soak up the excess salt without adding any kind of flavor -- just make sure to remove it before it starts to crumble.

• Here’s my solution for getting stains off skin -- for instance, fruit stains on hands or Kool-Aid on lips: Rinse hands in vinegar or soak a cotton ball in vinegar and wipe off the mouth. It works for me, but I do it right after the stain appears. -- G.G. in Nebraska

• "I put a folded newspaper inside the bag, in the bottom of my kitchen trash can. It really prevents drips." -- J.K. in Minnesota

• Here’s a warning from Ray the Painter in N.D. regarding a tip about using toothpaste to patch pinholes in a wall: "Stop! Don’t do it! Toothpaste will shine through any paint you put on the wall. No matter how many coats of paint you put on, toothpaste will bleed through. You would need special primer, which would be costly. Spackle is cheaper."

• "To avoid Cold and flu season is almost over, and I weathered it fine. I kept my hand sanitizer with me all the time. To cut costs, I purchased a large bottle with a pump for home, and I just refilled my tiny travel bottle whenever it got low. The big bottle lasted me nearly all season!