Ellett Memorial Hospital

01/30/2026

National Wear Red Day for Women's Cardiovascular Health is next Friday, February 6th. Cardiovascular Disease is the #1 killer of women and next Friday EMH is going to to help spread awareness.

We are also challenging our local community and businesses to join us in wearing red on February 6th in support of Women's Heart Health! Wear red to be seen, to be counted, to be heard, and to make an impact. Together, we are stronger than heart disease and stroke.

01/27/2026

The theme for this year’s Substance Use Disorder is “Treatment Works! Find the Path that Works for You.” Help us spread the word!

Recovery IS possible and treatment DOES work. Find the path to recovery that works for YOU. Give yourself the best gift...the gift of sobriety. Go to findtreatment.gov to search for treatment options near you.

01/26/2026

Take a 👀 at our current job openings! We have a range of PRN, part time and full time positions in both clinical and nonclinical areas!

Our comprehensive benefits package includes:
✅ Health Insurance
✅Dental
✅Vision
✅Short-term Disability
✅Life Insurance
✅Generous PTO Accrual
✅Employee Discount
✅Employer-Match 401(k)
✅FSH/HSA
✅Optional Supplemental Insurances (Sun Life)

Go to https://ellettmemorial.com/careers/index.html to view current job listing or apply. For any questions, please contact Kayla Orear, HR.

01/23/2026

Ellett Memorial Hospital February, 2026 Outpatient Specialty Clinic Schedule. For scheduling or referral questions, please call the Outpatient Clinic at 660.476.2111.

01/23/2026

A winter storm coupled with extremely cold temperatures is expected to impact St. Clair County this weekend. If possible, travel is not recommended and individuals are urged to stay indoors. Warming centers are available in St. Clair County for those who have need of them. Please see the list of warming centers and each site's operating hours below.

Warming Centers for St. Clair County:

1st Christian Church –
100 S. Chestnut Street, Appleton City
Offers around the clock

FEMA Storm Shelter –
1400 Main Street, Collins MO
Offers around the clock

Park Grove Christian Church –
11745 State Hwy NN Deepwater
Offers around the clock

Vista Baptist Church
2250 Old Missouri 13, Vista, MO 64776
Offers around the clock

Appleton City Library
105 W 4th St., Appleton City, MO 64724
Library hours: 830-5 Mon ,Tues, Wed 10-7

Osceola Public Library and Lowry City Public Library- available during business hours if they are open. May be closed due to weather.
Osceola- Monday – Thursday 8am-7pm, Friday 8am-5pm, Saturday 9am-2pm
Lowry City Tuesday- Thursday 1pm-6pm, Friday 10-5pm

Stay safe and warm this weekend!

01/21/2026

January is National Thyroid Awareness Month, a time dedicated to educating the public about the thyroid gland and its crucial role in body function, as well as the prevalence of thyroid diseases and the importance of early detection.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland in the front of your neck that produces hormones to control your body's metabolism, energy use, growth, and function of nearly every organ.

Common thyroid conditions include:
- Hyperthyroidism (overproduction of thyroid hormones)
-Hypothyroidism (underproduction of thyroid homrones)
-Goiter (enlargment of thyroid gland)
-Thyroid Nodules (often benign, sometimes cancerous)
-Thyroiditis (inflammation of thyroid gland)
-Thyroid cancer

Women are at a higher risk for thyroid disease, especially those 60+ or recently post-partum. Others with an increased risk include: those with a family history of thyroid conditions, those with other autoimmune conditions, and individuals with history of radiation exposure to the neck.

Early diagnosis of thyroid disease is important to help prevent serious, long-term complications such as heart disease, osteoporosis, and infertility.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid) to watch for:
- Energy & Mood: Fatigue, drowsiness, depression, forgetfulness.
- Metabolic: Weight gain, fluid retention, cold intolerance, dry skin/hair, slow heart rate, constipation.
- Physical: Puffy face, joint/muscle pain, heavy periods, hoarse voice, poor growth in children.

Symtpoms of Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid) to watch for:
-Energy & Mood: Nervousness, anxiety, irritability, difficulty sleeping, tremors.
-Metabolic: Weight loss (despite increased appetite), heat intolerance, increased sweating, rapid/irregular heartbeat (palpitations).
- Physical: Thinning hair, warm/moist skin, frequent bowel movements, vision changes (bulging eyes in Graves' disease), changes in menstrual cycles.

Other Common Signs to watch for:
Any visible swelling or lumps in the neck (signs of an enlarged thyroid gland).

If you are experiencing any symptoms of thyroid disease, speak to your primary care provider about testing.

01/16/2026

01/15/2026

EMH December ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Patient Comments ⏬⏬👀

Patient reviews from December sung the praises of several of our EMH providers and specialty clinics. Emergency Nurse Practioner, Kenny Maus, was praised several times for his excellent communication skills. Dr. Jerad Widman was praised for his top quality care and listening skills. Providers and staff from our specialty clinics (dermatology, gastroenterology, and rheumatology) were praised for for the friendly staff, excellent care, and caring providers. The last comment of the post sums it all up perfectly: "Great people and great hospital."

Thank you to our patients for taking the time to leave reviews of their visits. Patient reviews - whether good or bad - help us to improve our patient care!

01/14/2026

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and we're doing our part to spread the word about cervical cancer prevention.

Each year, 14,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in the US, despite it being one of the most preventable cancers today. Early detection is key and regular screenings are essential for early detection and prevention.

Screening with the pap smear should begin at age 21. Starting at age 30, there are three options for screenings: a pap test every 3 years, co-testing pap & HPV every 5 years, or an HPV test every 5 years.

In the US, about 1 in 4 women haven't been screened as recommended. If you are 21+ female, we strongly urge you to stay on top of your regular cervical cancer screenings. If you're overdue, make yourself an appoinment today.

01/12/2026

01/08/2026

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month - a time to educate and raise awareness about Glaucoma. Glaucoma, often called the silent thief of sight, is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in the United States. Up to half of the people who have Glaucoma are unaware that they do. A 2024 meta-analysis estimated that about 4.22 million adults in the United States have glaucoma, and more than 1.4 million already have suffered vision loss from the disease. Globally, glaucoma affects an estimated 80 million people, a number expected to rise as populations age.

There’s no cure for glaucoma, but early detection and treatment can slow or prevent further vision loss. Regular eye exams are the only way to catch glaucoma early, as vision changes associated with glaucoma come on so gradually, many people miss them or dismiss them.

Subtle Changes That May Suggest Glaucoma:
-Slowly worsening peripheral (side) vision
-Trouble seeing in dim light
-Mildly blurred or patchy vision in one or both eyes
-Frequent prescription changes that don’t fully fix your vision

Major Glaucoma Risk Factors:

-Age 60 or older (risk increases with age)
-Family history of glaucoma, especially in a parent or sibling
-Elevated eye pressure (ocular hypertension)
-Diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease
-Thin corneas or certain eye structural features
-A history of eye injury, long-term steroid use, or certain eye conditions
-Race and ethnicity:
- 1. Black or African American adults are more likely to develop glaucoma, and they often develop it at a younger age
- 2. Hispanic and Latino adults, particularly those over age 60, have an elevated risk
- 3. People of Asian descent are at higher risk for angle-closure glaucoma and some normal-tension forms