Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 5-1-24

12 I NEWS I
May 1, 2024
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE
us on
facebook.com/midriversnewsmagazine
If you've noticed you aren't as
steady on your feet as you used to
be, it's tempting to think that it's just
a normal part of aging. You may
think that because "everyone" your
age seems to be having the same
trouble as you that it's something
you will have to learn to live with.
You may not know when it was that
you started to lose your confidence
and when you started to worry about
every step you take, but now it's
starting to limit what you're able to
do. If this is happening to you,
you're not alone. We hear these
types of things all the time. In fact,
Balance Issues are the most
common problem we see at
HouseFit.
Most people realize that their
balance won't magically get better
on its own, but they still don't take
action. It might be because they
don't know what steps to take to
make their balance better OR they
don't truly believe balance can be
improved "at their age". Fortunately,
there are several options to get you
back on your feet again.
Over the last 17 years, I’ve worked
with hundreds of clients who’ve had
a fall (or several), and I’ve been
able to help them get their lives
back. In working with so many
clients, I’ve been able to put
together a very helpful Guide “How
To Decrease Falls: Helpful Tips To
Keep You Steady On Your Feet”.
THE HARMONY
HANDBOOK: SECRETS TO
SUSTAINABLE BALANCE
BY: DR. BETH TEMPLIN, PT, DPT, GCS
GERIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Inside this special guide, I share
detailed information, such as:
Top 3 factors that cause falls
and how to minimize your risk
in each area.
The 4 parts of balance that
work work together to keep us
steady and how to find areas of
improvement.
How to “Test Yourself” to find
out if you're at risk for a fall.
Simple exercises you can do at
home to start improving your
balance.
AND much more!
I want to make this guide available
to you absolutely free of charge! To
claim your free copy, simply call
my office at (314) 939-1377 or visit
www.housefitstl.com/balanceissues-journey
to download the
report directly to your computer.
If you’re ready to start taking
positive steps toward regaining
your balance and an active
lifestyle, this free guide will let you
to start this process with
confidence!
At HouseFit, we help adults 55+
maximize their independence and
fitness, so they can continue to
enjoy a full and active life.
3809 Lemay Ferry Rd.
Saint Louis, MO 63125
(314) 939-1377
info@housefitstl.com
HouseFit www.housefitstl.com
By ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON
A much-needed increase in available
healthcare services is expected in the
shape of a proposed a 75-bed, next-generation
hospital in Wentzville.
According to a press release issued on
April 5, Mercy, the sixth largest Catholic
healthcare system in the nation, has filed
a letter of intent with the Missouri Department
of Health and Senior Services (DHSS)
to construct a hospital in order to “address
the soaring population growth in the state’s
tri-county area, encompassing St. Charles,
Lincoln and Warren counties …”
Mercy announced a projected investment
of $650 million in a 483,000-squarefoot
medical complex to be located on
approximately 60 acres near the intersection
of interstates 64 and 70.
If approved, according to the release,
the complex will be the state’s first acutecare
hospital campus built since 2015
when Mercy opened its hospital in Joplin
following the 2011 tornado.
Mercy began focusing on the tri-county
region in 2010, when it developed a community
master plan and sought out feedback
from residents and local community
leaders about needed services.
City Administrator Douglas Lee said
the Wentzville has provided a letter of
support to DHSS for the project.
“As a city of almost 50,000, there is a
recognized need to provide healthcare to
not only the existing residents, but also
to plan for the future and be aware of the
growth of the surrounding counties that
utilize Wentzville as a regional destination,”
Lee said in an email.
“Mercy will be required to complete a
traffic impact study that analyzes existing
infrastructure and capacity as well as
the potential impacts their project could
generate. They will also evaluate what
improvements will need to be accomplished
for the project to be successful,”
Lee said. “The project will coordinate
with stakeholders, and will follow the
city’s Thoroughfare Plan to provide project
access and regional transportation
improvements.”
The Missouri Department of Transportation
(MoDOT) announced last August
that it would begin adding lanes to an
18-mile stretch of I-70 from Wentzville
to Warrenton in November of this year.
MoDOT had already planned in 2021 to
add a third lane in each direction on I-70
under the railroad bridge in Wentzville to
ease traffic on the current limited number
of lanes between Hwy. Z and Wentzville
Parkway.
@MIDRIVERS_NEWS
MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
Mercy announces plans for 75-bed
hospital in Wentzville
Lee said the city has requested that
Mercy contact MoDOT’s design team
to better understand how the “Improve
I-70” and adjacent interchange projects
can coordinate with the Mercy project.
He said the majority of responses regarding
the project so far have been from
residents seeking information about the
specific location of the development. On
the city’s post about the project, residents
voiced support as well as concerns over
the potential of added traffic congestion
in the area.
Lee said the project, if approved, will
generate a significant number of jobs
during construction, as well as a wide
range of permanent employment opportunities
upon the hospital’s completion. “As
with many large employment centers, it
should also create an opportunity for local
dining and service-related businesses to
fill a need,” he said.
In the press release, Mercy president
and CEO Steve Mackin said that the new
hospital is a continuation of the healthcare
provider’s ongoing commitment to
offer more services to residents west of
St. Louis.
“We have grown our Mercy presence in
the area over the past decade from three
locations to nearly 40, providing adult and
pediatric primary and specialty care as
well as a critical access hospital in Troy,”
Mackin said. “Now is the time to invest
in the future and better serve our patients
closer to home. Our data shows us many
Mercy patients travel, sometimes more
than an hour, from Lincoln and Warren
counties into St. Louis County. The need
for this facility, while significant today,
will only increase as projected growth
continues.”
According to Mercy, there is a significant
need. When tri-county residents are
admitted to a hospital, some 18% travel
for care at a Mercy hospital, the healthcare
provider reported, adding that according
to the U.S. Census Bureau, St. Charles,
Lincoln and Warren counties are three of
the top seven fastest growing counties in
the state. Officials said by 2032, the population
in the area is predicted to grow by
approximately 9.5% to more than 500,000
residents.
Mercy officials said they will hold
roundtable discussions that allow the
public and community leaders an opportunity
to provide feedback and ideas for
the new hospital and expanding healthcare
services in the region. Updates on
the process will be posted on Mercy.net/
WentzvilleCampus as soon as they’re
available.