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2ECRUITER 3HOWCASE!PRIL 6OL )SSUE )NFORMATION FOR THE /KLAHOMA .URSING (EALTH #ARE 0ROFESSIONALWWW OKNURSINGTIMES COM0UBLISHED 7EEKLY ,OCALLY /WNED AND /PERATED BY -ETRO 0UBLISHING , , # OU leading nursing renaissanceIntroducingINTEGRISHealth UniversityA Nursing Program offeredin partnership with OklahomaChristian UniversityDr. Melissa Craft and OU student Romalace Jenkins serve at a community vaccination clinic.As Covid-19 threatened nursing educationin 2020, the collective minds at the Universityof Oklahoma Fran and Earl Ziegler College ofNursing decided to use the historic event as alearning tool.From collecting Covid-19 swabs toadministering vaccinations, OU’s College ofNursing found a way for students to not onlylearn but be a part of the solution throughoutthe pandemic.“Ever since last fall I’ve been talkingabout the clinical renaissance we can be apart of in nursing,” said Senior AssociateDean Melissa Craft, PhD, APRN-CNS, AOCN,FAAN. “After the last great plague in theMiddle Ages, there was a renaissance. Mypoint all along has been how best to positivelyuse this experience for the betterment ofpatients and for us as nurses.”!S FEATURED IN/KLAHOMA S%DUCATION 'UIDE FOR.URSING EDITION3EE /5 0AGE If you’ve ever considered being a nurse, you’llwant to hear about this new program. INTEGRISHealth University powered by INTEGRIS Healthand Oklahoma Christian University, is the resultof an innovative academic partnership designedto increase the available pipeline of nurses.There has been a nursing shortage inthe United States, including Oklahoma, for3EE ).4%'2)3 0AGE
0AGE /5#ONTINUED FROM 0AGE The focus has not only been onstudents simply emerging from thepandemic but flourishing, armedwith experience and a new set ofskills.From a nursing educationstandpoint, the pandemic hastaught a number of lessons.“Going back to FlorenceNightingale, formalized nursingwas birthed because of a war andnurses’ responses in stepping intothat situation,” said Craft. “FlorenceNightingale was a scientist, shewas an advocate for social justice,a leader in healthcare management,and at the core, she was dedicatedto individual flourishing.“To me (what the pandemic)has taught us as a college iswhat we do as nurses is infinitelyneeded. What the pandemic hastaught everyone is the knowledgeand skill of nursing as scientists, asadvocates, as leaders in healthcaremanagement, and at their core,dedicated to human flourishingis incredibly essential in our!PRIL society.”The pandemic not only validatedto Craft that what is currentlybeing done to prepare nurses fortheir profession needs to continue,but it also allowed introspectionand an opportunity to revisit ifthe profession is doing everythingit can as a science and advocatefor social justice.The pandemic also served tofurther highlight the underlyingdisparities in our healthcaresystem.“As nurses, as nursing students,and as a college we can’t be blindto that,” Craft said. “We really haveto look at it as an opportunity.Again it’s the renaissance whichwas all about going back intolearning, wisdom, discovery andexploration.”As in-person nursing educationground to a halt around thecountry, the OU College of Nursingsought out opportunities to engagestudents and help them learnduring these unprecedented times.One of those opportunitiescame out of the Swab Pods, wherestudents staffed Covid-19 testingstations in Oklahoma City andTulsa.The students loved it, especiallyin a time where they were takenout of face-to-face classroom andthe clinical learning settings.“The core of what nurses dois they lean into situations,” Craftsaid. “It’s like firefighters runinto a burning building, nursesrun into taking care of people.When we started looking at (theswab pods) it was clinical, it wascommunity and reaching out towhere our community needs us. Itwas sort of a rethinking of whatit does mean to do clinical work.It doesn’t all have to happen in anacute care setting. In fact, we needto recognize that “the majority ofpatients’ lives don’t occur in anacute-care setting.” Therefore weneed to be where the patients areand our students need to learnwhere the patients are.The university also leveragedits partnerships with OU Healthas well as the Oklahoma CityCounty Health Department andthe Oklahoma City VA Health CareSystem to identify other student/KLAHOMA S .URSING 4IMESDr. Melissa Craft is helping lead theOU College of Nursing’s educationrenaissance.learning opportunities.“What we’ve done as a collegeis to look at every opportunitynot to continue what we’ve alwaysdone but ascertain what the OUCollege of Nursing can do now tomake a difference,” she said.For more information visit:https://nursing.ouhsc.edu/
/KLAHOMA S .URSING 4IMES).4%'2)3#ONTINUED FROM 0AGE many years – long before theexistence of COVID-19. One thingthe pandemic has certainly shownus, is that nurses are the backboneof the medical profession and wedesperately need more of them.INTEGRIS Health Universitycreates flexibility for candidatesby allowing them to work in ahospital setting while receivingtheir necessary credits. It uses atransformational nursing educationmodel that is moving away fromtraditional education to a moreblended approach with hands-onlearning and online instruction.The Certified Nurse Assistant(CNA) to Registered Nurse (RN)program is open to CNAs andnon-CNAs alike, meaning youdo not have to be a CNA!PRIL to participate. In fact, if acandidate is not already a CNA,INTEGRIS Health will pay for thatcandidate to become one throughpartnerships with several differentvocational schools.“INTEGRIS Health is eager topartner with academic institutionsacross the state to beginstrategically transforming thefuture of nursing for Oklahoma,”says Kerri Bayer, the chief nurseexecutive at INTEGRIS Health.“It is through intentional effortthat we will begin establishingpathways into the most noble andtrusted profession of nursing ina way that aligns with studentneeds of today.”She continues, “We are notonly committed to growing thenursing workforce, but to ensuringlife-long success for our nurses.”The program is intended for0AGE both recent high school graduatesand adults. Each student willperform delegated direct patientcare activities to an assigned groupof patients, under the supervisionof a Registered Nurse.Interested candidates will needto apply to both INTEGRISHealth and Oklahoma ChristianUniversity. Application formsprovided in hyperlinks.#HECK /UT /KLAHOMA S "%34.URSING AND (EALTH CARE JOBS WWW OKCNURSINGTIMES COM CLICK JOBS
0AGE !PRIL CAREERSIN/KLAHOMA S .URSING 4IMESNURSINGCALLED TO BE A NURSE: GERIATRICS IS LPN’S FORTEBY *AMES #OBURN STAFF WRITERHearing a nursing home residenttell her they love her for thefirst time is what warms her heartthe most as a nurse, Kayla Coltersaid.“It’s like we are the peoplethey rely on from day-to-day.I didn’t think I was makingthat much of an impact untilone of them told me that theyloved me,” said Colter, LPN, atThe Wilshire Skilled Nursing andTherapy, located in OklahomaCity.Geriatric nursing wasn’t Colter’sfirst ambition in becoming a nurse.However, nursing homes hire LPNsmore readily that a hospital will,Colter said. And she fell in lovewith working for the elderly.“They tend to pull on yourheart strings. And I think I reallyfound the field of nursing that Iwant to be in,” she said.Colter is a recent nursing schoolgraduate, having earned her LPNlicense in August after studyingat Oklahoma City CommunityCollege.She began serving at TheWilshire Skilled Nursing andTherapy on Sept. 1.“I’m going for my RN,” Coltersaid. OCCC offers a challengingcurriculum, she continued. Shechose OCCC because it offersone of the best programs in thestate, she said. OCCC preparedher well for a nursing careerwith informative instructors, Coltersaid.“I know a lot more information,I think than a nursing student thatwould go to a different college,”she said.Colter was grateful to finda nursing staff with a workethic to serve when coming toThe Wilshire Skilled Nursing andTherapy. They work extremely hardand their actions demonstrate theycare deeply for their patients, shementioned.“You can tell by the waythey do things every day. Theyget them up to look nice, andthey help them with their dailyliving activities. They do it withdignity.”The main thing a nurse needsto know when working in askilled nursing and therapy centeris that it is home for the residents.Nurses should be respectful andcompassionate while having theprofessional knowledge needed tocare for the residents, she said.“We treat them the way you’dwant your family to be treated,”Colter said.Unlike a hospital setting,nursing homes offer chances fornurses to know their patientswith more depth during the days,weeks, months, and years theyshare together. Bonding with theresidents in a home-like settinghas helped alleviate some of theworry they feel when not beingable to see their families duringthe COVID-19 pandemic, Coltersaid.“One of the important thingsis companionship. They don’t reallyget to see their families. You canbe there, and you get to listen totheir concerns and spend time withthem. You don’t just go in thereand get what you need done. Yougo in there and talk to them anddo things for them. I know thatsometimes I’ll take extra time out ofmy day to do their nails and hairbecause they need that interactionand that socialization.”3EE #/,4%2 0AGE
/KLAHOMA S .URSING 4IMES!PRIL 0AGE #/,4%2#ONTINUED FROM 0AGE Colter said it was when shehad her first daughter that she feltinclined to pursue a nursing career.“I was in (Mercy Hospital) andthe nurses there were fantastic,” shesaid. “They helped me tremendously.I was in a scary situation. I hadto have an emergency C-section,and the nurses just really helpedme through that, and I realizedI wanted to do that for otherpeople.”As a nurse, her history of havingbeen a patient also helped herto relate more to the role of apatient. Nurses are everything, shesaid. They give out medicationswith a caring spirit, help peopleto walk, and in a way are similarto therapists by encouraging others,she said.“They push you and let you talkabout your feelings,” she said.Geriatric nursing is opposite thepolar spectrum of pediatric care.And today, she says that geriatricnursing chose her.“Like I said, once I got into itand got the experience — I fell in Kayla Colter, LPN, The Wilshire Skilled Nursing and Therapy in Oklahoma City, says seeing the resilience ofresidents at the nursing home shows they still have hope in life.love with it,” Colter said.
0AGE !PRIL /KLAHOMA S .URSING 4IMES123 CERTIFIED MEDICALASSISTANT7E ARESEEKING #ERTIlED-EDICATION !IDE #-! AM PM !PPLY AT .ORTH #OUNTY!SSISTED ,IVING . ND 3T#OLLINSVILLE / 7E ARE LOOKINGTO HIRE A #ERTIlED-EDICATION !IDE PM PM !PPLY AT "EACON 2IDGE3ENIOR -ENTAL (EALTH % ,INE !VE 3APULPA / 124 CERTIFIED NURSEASSISTANT7E ARE SEEKING#ERTIlED .URSING!SSISTANT #.! !PPLY AT (EARTSWORTH!SSISTED ,IVING LOCATED AT . &OREMAN 3T6INITA / !PPLY NOW #ERTIlED .URSING!SSISTANT AM PM NEEDED124 CERTIFIED NURSEASSISTANT140 GENERAL NURSING.OW INTERVIEWINGENERGETICAPPLICANTS FOR SHIFT #ERTIlED.URSING !SSISTANT7E ARE SEEKING !IDE TOJOIN OUR TEAM 2EPORTSDIRECTLY TO THE IRECTOR OF/PERATIONS AND FUNCTIONUNDER THE SUPERVISION OFTHE 2EGISTERED .URSEAND OR #LINICAL 3UPERVISOR .EW #ENTURY (OSPICE 3OUTH ARLINGTON!VENUE 3UITE 4ULSA / !RBOR 6ILLAGE IS .OWINTERVIEWING ENERGETICAPPLICANTS FOR SHIFT 2ESIDENT CENTERED #ARE#OME SEE THEDIFFERENCE (EALTHINSURANCE VISION DENTALSHORT TERM LONG TERMDISABILITY K AND 04/AVAILABLE !PPLY ONLINE ORIN PERSON AT 7 4AFT!VE 3APULPA / AT .ORTH #OUNTY .URSING 2EHABILITATION LOCATEDAT . ND 3T#OLLINSVILLE / !PPLY NOW #OMPETITIVE0AY "ENElTS "ONUSES3UPPORTIVE ,EADERSHIP 1UALIlCATIONS -UST BE YEARS OLD WITH A CLEANBACKGROUND RELIABLETRANSPORTATION ACTIVEDRIVER S LICENSE AUTOINSURANCE AND THE ABILITY 140 GENERAL NURSINGTO LIFT AT LEAST LBS !BILITYTO WORK mEXIBLE SCHEDULESAND WEEKENDS IS HIGHLY7E ARE ,OOKING 4OPREFERRED 2EQUIREDHIRE NEW STAFF WHOLICENSE OR CERTIlCATION HAVEA SERVANTS HEART#ERTIlED .URSING !SSISTANTANDAREDEPENDABLE 2EQUIRED EDUCATION (IGH/PENINGS FOR #ERTIlEDSCHOOL OR EQUIVALENT &UN &ACT 7ITH OVER YEARS OFCOMBINED NEWSPAPER PUBLISHING EDITINGGRAPHIC DESIGN SALES AND MARKETINGEXPERIENCE /KLAHOMA S .URSING 4IMESWELCOMES THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITHYOU 4O !DVERTISE 0LEASE #ALL /KLAHOMA S.URSING 4IMES AT /R6ISIT WWW OKNURSINGTIMES COM 7E ARE SEEKING.URSE !IDE#ERTIlED .URSE!IDE !LL 3HIFTS7ILL 4RAIN 4HE 6ILLAGE (EALTH #ARE#ENTER 3 -AIN 3T"ROKEN !RROW / .URSING !IDES FOR ALLSHIFTS AND #ERTIlED-EDICATION !IDE FORNIGHT SHIFT 7E OFFER HEALTH INSURANCETO FULL TIME EMPLOYEESAND SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL FOREVENINGS AND NIGHTS !PPLY TODAY AT . TH !VE 0URCELL/ 3UNSET %STATES %/%140 GENERAL NURSING7E !RE 3EEKING-INIMUM ATA 3ET.URSE ,ICENSED0RACTICAL .URSE AND2EGISTERED .URSE.EEDED !PPLY AT "EACON 2IDGE3ENIOR -ENTAL (EALTH % ,INE !VE 3APULPA /
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0AGE *ANUARY /KLAHOMA S .URSING 4IMES
/KLAHOMA S .URSING 4IMES!PRIL 0AGE (AS PUBLISHED IN THE 2021 EDUCATION GUIDE TO NURSING)SWOSU is One of Oklahoma’sBest Universities"Y ANY MEASURE 3OUTHWESTERN /KLAHOMA 3TATE 5NIVERSITY WITH CAMPUSLOCATIONS IN 7EATHERFORD AND 3AYRE IS CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE THE HOME OFONE OF /KLAHOMA S BEST UNIVERSITIES 37/35 IS KNOWN FOR ITS QUALITY PROGRAMSHAVING NATIONALLY ACCREDITED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS MOST AMONG THE SENIORREGIONAL UNIVERSITIES IN /KLAHOMA 4HE 37/35 3CHOOL OF .URSING OFFERS lVE PROGRAMS THE TRADITIONAL "3. PROGRAMTAUGHT ON CAMPUS AND THREE ONLINE DEGREES FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ALREADY 2.S 2.TO "3. -3. IN .URSING %DUCATION GRADUATE AND -3. .URSING !DMINISTRATION GRADUATE 37/35 ALSO OFFERS ONLINE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS IN (EALTH )NFORMATION-ANAGEMENT (EALTHCARE )NFORMATICS AND )NFORMATION -ANAGEMENT GRADUATE 4HE UNIVERSITY ALSO HAS TWO CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT PROGRAMS BETWEEN 37/35 AND #ADDO IOWA 4ECHNOLOGY#ENTER FOR THE /CCUPATIONAL 4HERAPY !SSISTANT AND THE 0HYSICAL 4HERAPIST !SSISTANT 0ROGRAMS 3IX OF 37/35 S NATIONALLY ACCREDITED PROGRAMS ARE IN (EALTH )NFORMATION -ANAGEMENT .URSING /CCUPATIONAL4HERAPY !SSISTANT 0HYSICAL 4HERAPIST !SSISTANT 2ADIOLOGIC 4ECHNOLOGY AND -EDICAL ,ABORATORY 4ECHNICIAN 4HE UNIVERSITY BOASTS PROFESSIONALLY AND ACADEMICALLY QUALIlED FACULTY WHO MENTOR STUDENTS TOWARDSACCOMPLISHMENT OF THEIR GOALS 37/35 BOASTS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE SELECTIONS OF ACADEMIC COLLEGE COURSE OPTIONS AND THE UNIVERSITY IS TOP RATED IN AFFORDABILITY !S ALWAYS 37/35IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING ITS STUDENTS WITH A QUALITY EDUCATION WHILE PREPARING THEM FOR THE CAREER OF THEIR DREAMS 7EATHERFORD IS VERY ACCESSIBLE LOCATED ON )NTERSTATE LESS THAN ONE HOUR WEST OF THE /KLAHOMA #ITY METRO AREA 4HE LOCATION IS CONVENIENT FORCOMMUTERS AND TRADITIONAL STUDENTS 6ISIT HTTPS WWW SWOSU EDU FOR MORE INFORMATION
0AGE !PRIL /KLAHOMA S .URSING 4IMESNorman Regional Achieves Certification in Perinatal CareAfter undergoing a successfulvirtual survey with accreditingorganization, The Joint Commission,Norman Regional Health System is nowcertified in Perinatal Care. NormanRegional is the first program inOklahoma to receive this accolade.“Being the first and only healthsystem in the state to receive thiscertification puts into perspective theamount of work in quality improvement,best practice implementation andmeasurement required by our healersto achieve it” said Brittni McGill,chief nursing officer for NormanRegional. “We will continue to growand improve upon this milestone,continuing to ensure the health andsafety of mothers and newborns in ourcommunity.”Organizations that monitor and adhereto perinatal guidelines are more likely todemonstrate the following improvements:* Reduction in infant mortality rates* Reduction in maternal complicationsand mortality* Reduction of early elective deliveriesthat can lead to an increase inadmission rates to the neonatal intensivecare unit (NICU)* Reduction of complications duringdeliveries* Reduction of prematurity rates thatcan lead to infant mortality* Reduction in costs associated withlengthy hospital stays due to pregnancyrelated complications“Our healers have always workedto provide families with the higheststandard of prenatal and postpartumcare,” said Richie Splitt, president andCEO of Norman Regional. “Our hopeis that this certification gives familiesa sense of added security, safety andconfidence in the care they receivewhile they are at Norman Regional.”
/KLAHOMA S .URSING 4IMES!PRIL Get Ready forCOVID-19 Vaccines:Insurance Coverage andMisinformation"Y /KLAHOMA )NSURANCE #OMMISSIONER 'LEN -ULREADYThanks to the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) and allthe front-line workers, Oklahoma has now entered Phase 4 of its vaccinedistribution plan. With three COVID-19 vaccines available, all Oklahomans arenow eligible for vaccination. As we’re on track to get our “normal” back, I’dlike to remind you that the cost of obtaining a vaccine will not be a barrierfor Oklahomans, regardless of health insurance status.The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, providesfunding for the vaccine itself. It also requires most health insurance companiesto cover qualifying coronavirus preventive services without imposing any costsharing requirements, such as a copay, coinsurance or deductible. If you arecovered under Medicare or Medicaid, your vaccine will be paid for by theMedicare’s trust fund. If you don’t have insurance, your vaccine is still covered.Healthcare providers will get reimbursed through the Provider Relief Fund.If you received an unexpected bill for a COVID-19 vaccine or qualifyingassociated visit, you should contact theprovider or your insurance companyand alert them of the error. If youhave issues with your health insurancecompany regarding a bill related toCOVID-19, please file a complaint withthe Oklahoma Insurance Department(OID) at www.oid.ok.gov/ or contactthe Consumer Assistant at 800-522-0071.Also, here are some key takeawaysto avoid fraud related to COVID-19vaccines.* You don’t need to pay to geta COVID-19 vaccine appointment. Visitthe OSDH’s website to make yourappointment. You can also ask yourdoctor or provider how to get thevaccine near where you live.* Getting a COVID-19 vaccineis free. Whether you have healthinsurance or not, the vaccines arealways free. Providers can seekreimbursement from your insurancecompany, but there are no co-paysor cost-sharing. If you’re asked topay money, contact the OID at800-522-0071.* You cannot buy a COVID-19vaccine. Please do not fall for the adsthat come via email or pop up onyour social media feed offering early0AGE access to a vaccine. The vaccine isavailable only at federal and stateapproved locations.* Vaccinations will not impactyour life insurance benefits. Lifeinsurance policies clearly spell outwhat might cause your insurerto deny a benefit. Receiving aCOVID-19 vaccine would not void apolicyholder’s life insurance coverage.Contact your agent if you havequestions or concerns about the detailsof your policy.* Never give out your personalfinancial information. No one from avaccine distribution site, state agency,healthcare provider’s office, insurancecompany or Medicare will contactyou to ask for your Social Security,credit card or bank account numberto get the vaccine.For more insurance information,please contact the Oklahoma InsuranceDepartment at 1-800-522-0071 or visitour website at www.oid.ok.gov.
0AGE !PRIL SITUATION UPDATE: COVID-19* As of this advisory, there are 444,863 (273 new today)cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma.* 294 is today’s 7-day rolling average for the number ofnew cases reported.* Today’s Provisional Death Count (CDC/NCHS): 8,124* Additional hospitalization data can be found in the/KLAHOMA S .URSING 4IMESHospital Tiers report, published evenings Monday throughFriday.* Register online to receive a notification when you’reeligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment atvaccinate.oklahoma.gov, or locate other vaccine opportunitiesat vaccinefinder.org.* For more information, visit https://oklahoma.gov/covid19.html.*The total includes laboratory information provided toOSDH at the time of the report. As a result, counts aresubject to change. Total counts may not reflect uniqueindividuals.***The purpose of publishing aggregated statisticalCOVID-19 data through the OSDH Dashboard, the ExecutiveOrder Report, and the Weekly Epidemiology and SurveillanceReport is to support the needs of the general public inreceiving important and necessary information regarding thestate of the health and safety of the citizens of Oklahoma.These resources may be used only for statistical purposesand may not be used in any way that would determine theidentity of any reported cases.Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma StateDepartment of Health. *As of 2021-04-16 at 7:00 a.m.
/KLAHOMA S .URSING 4IMES!PRIL 0AGE Life worth hearing: Ears of Oklahoma can helpBY *AMES #OBURN 3TAFF 7RITERHearing loss can be so gradualuntil it becomes a problem withage, said Dr. Jeni Merrick-Baker,a clinical audiologist and ownerof Ears of Oklahoma, located inOklahoma City.Ears of Oklahoma treats a rangeof hearing disorders among patientsolder than 18.“Everybody typically starts losingtheir hearing in their 40s, but wedon’t notice it at first,” Baker said.“If there ever is a sudden hearingloss and you just wake up one dayand the hearing is gone in one ear,then that’s an issue that you haveto see an ear specialist or otologistwithin 24 hours to try to get thathearing back.”Most of her clients come toBaker for problems such as ringingin their ears, otherwise known astinnitus. Tinnitus affects about 15-20percent of people, according to theMayo Clinic. It is especially commonin older adults.“It’s more and more commonevery day,” Baker said. “We’re justseeing it so much more especiallyin the baby boom generation, duemost likely to some loud noise andconcerts.”Baker begins her diagnosis afterclearing wax from the ear canal. Acomprehensive hearing test is doneto learn the type of hearing loss apatient is experiencing and the bestmethod of treatment. Hearing aidsmay be fitted when needed.Family members will notice thespeaker volume going up. Typically,a spouse will encourage their lovedon to visit Ears of Oklahoma afternoticing their husband or wife ishaving trouble hearing conversationat a restaurant or a place with acompeting background noise. Olderadults might complain that theyhave difficulty in hearing theirgrandchildren speak.“That’s always a sign that theyknow there’s some loss there, justbecause of the range the kids voicestypically fall in,” Baker said.Recent advances in technologyhas made it easier for audiologists torestore more lifestyles with improvedhearing.Hearing aids are receptive toBluetooth now. Clients wearing onecan receive a phone call directlyin their ears without holding thephone next to their ear. Bluetoothtechnology can be sent directly tothe hearing aid as well.The brain is wired to hear instereo to process hearing. Sound isfiltered for clarity before it everreaches the eardrum.“So basically, if the spouse iswith them watching the TV, theycan set the volume wherever theywant,” Baker said.An app designed for tinnitushelps to minimize ringing in theears.Additionally, Bluetooth technologyenables the use of a bi-cross hearingaid. Sound is transferred to the deafear from the healthy hear.“It gives people back the locationof sound,” she said.A rewarding part of Baker’sprofession is hearing patients tellher that their life is better now aftergoing to Ears of Oklahoma.“They can hear in a very difficultsituation — for instance in a noisyrestaurant,” she said.Research indicates that even amild hearing loss may double therisk of dementia, Baker continued.“A moderate to severe hearingloss triples it. And if it’s a true,severe hearing loss, you’re five timesmore likely to develop dementiaearly.”People get their life back withrestored hearing. They are no longernervous about not saying the rightthing in a conversation.Baker looks forward to the endof the pandemic. Technology allowsher to enter an office, assisted livingor home to test and provide hearingaids in the comfort of home.“That’s something that’s realexciting and I can’t wait for that tostart happening,” she said.Twenty years ago, Baker beganher practice in Ardmore. Shecontinues to have the clinic there.Baker had been with the OtologicMedical Clinic at the HoughEar Institute for several yearsand decided to open her secondindependent practice of her ownin Oklahoma City. She branchedoff in November to the Ears ofOklahoma location at 3400 NW 56thSt., Oklahoma City.Patients come to see Baker frommany parts of the state. It’s niceto have a practice in Ardmore, shesaid.“I’m one of the very few inDr. Jeni Merrick-Baker finds fulfillment in helping Oklahomans to hearagain at her clinic, Ears of Oklahoma.southern Oklahoma,” she said.Baker recommends well fittingearplugs to protect hearing duringloud concerts or when exposedto loud industria
Apr 4, 2021
