IU Health Ball, Blackford & Jay

09/04/2025

Looking for a primary care doctor who knows your story, not just your symptoms?

Dr. Luke Vaughn is currently accepting new patients at IU Health Primary Care - Daleville.

He is a family medicine physician who provides full-spectrum primary care with a focus on community wellness and preventive health. Learn more about Dr. Vaughn at https://iuhealth.org/find-providers/provider/luke-q-vaughn-md-4081211.

Book an appointment today by calling 765.387.5560.

09/04/2025

Elevating patient care through expertise

Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) are advanced practice registered nurses with advanced clinical expertise in a specialized area of nursing practice. As a nurse, the decision to take the next step to become a CNS can help them improve patient outcomes.

Erica Boggs, BSN, RN, is the Cardiac Program coordinator at IU Health Ball. Boggs is currently pursuing her CNS with a focus on cardiology. Boggs chose to become a CNS because of her passion of improving patient outcomes through evidence-based care.

"I wanted to be in a role where I could influence both individual patient care and broader clinical practices, ensuring that quality and compassion are at the heart of everything we do,” she says.

In the future, she hopes to use her CNS to elevate the impact she already has in her current role: bringing advanced clinical expertise, driving evidence-based practice and leading quality improvement initiatives that enhance patient care and support the Cardiology team.

Kayla Anderson, MSN, RN, first learned what a CNS was when she was a bedside oncology nurse. She met with their oncology CNS and was intrigued by the role.

“I was still uncertain of my career path at the time,” she says. “I knew I wanted to support and prepare nurses to provide the best care for our patients.”

She chose to follow the Nursing Professional Development (NPD) path, where she was able to grow as a nurse and is excited to take the knowledge she has gained from NPD with her as she pursues her CNS in adult-gerontology with the goal of focusing on oncology.

Anderson has worked in the same office as Lori Delaney, Medical–Surgical CNS, for the past six years and Delaney has provided her with a look into how advanced practice nurses function.

Anderson was born at Ball, so the work she does to help patients is close to her heart. She knows that becoming a CNS will help her identify areas where improvement is needed and work to improve outcomes related to those gaps.

Ryan Sidwell, BSN, RN, became interested in CNS when he attended an evidence-based practice immersion. This experience opened his eyes to how impactful evidence-based practice is, and after meeting with a mentor, he chose to begin his CNS journey.

Each year, CNSs are celebrated from Sept. 1 – 7. CNS week acknowledges the contributions of the nearly 90,000 CNSs in North America.

CNS week is a perfect time for CNSs to celebrate and bring attention to the role, and for hospitals and healthcare systems to pay tribute to the valuable part CNSs play in healthcare. CNSs combine their skills as clinical experts, educators, consultants, researchers and leaders to impact patients, nursing and the organization.

09/02/2025

Dr. Dashrath Gautam is a primary care physician at IU Health's Liberty Corner office in Muncie. He loves to travel and taught himself how to speak Spanish. "It started off as a hobby then after I learned that one language really well, I got bored and wanted to switch to a different language. I speak French, Spanish, German, Hindi, Swedish, Tamil and English, says Dr. Gautam. "That actually opened a lot of doors for me because it helped me connect a lot better with the patient and understand the person's culture as well."

09/01/2025

Hungry? 🍴 Take a look at September’s guest restaurant lineup at Cafe Connection!

This month, enjoy favorites like Panda Express, Everbowl, Guys Cooking Creation, and Sushi Boss all joining us for lunch.

Cafe Connection is open Monday – Friday, 6:30 am – 2 pm, on the lower level of IU Health Ball. It’s a convenient spot for team members, patients, visitors and Ball State students looking for a quick and tasty bite nearby.

Come see what’s on the menu this month!

08/28/2025

IU Health Jay receives national recognition for high-quality stroke care

The American Heart Association presents Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Silver Plus award for proven dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and life-saving care.

IU Health Jay Cardiac Rehabilitation has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Silver Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

Stroke is the fifth cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines - Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

“IU Health Jay is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” says Marci Pittenger, RN, BSN, IU Health Jay clinical nurse quality coordinator. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure more people in our community can experience longer, healthier lives.”

Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.

08/27/2025

Looking for a primary care doctor who makes you feel heard and cared for?

Dr. Usha Thapa is currently accepting new patients at IU Health Primary Care - Upland.

Her patients are saying:

💬 "She truly cares about helping her patients stay healthy. If I know anyone in need of a good primary care physician, I’ll definitely recommend her.”

💬 "I feel very comfortable with Dr. Thapa and the care she provides. The staff have made me feel supported and the medical attention I’ve received has been excellent. I highly recommend."

💬 "She was personable, professional, and gave me the care and advice I needed.”

Book an appointment online today at https://iuhealth.org/find-providers/provider/usha-thapa-md-3694944 or call 765.770.0650.

08/26/2025

Happy !

Twice a week Dan Boyd and his furry friend, a therapy dog named Bayley, make the rounds at IU Health Ball. Bayley loves to visit with patients, but his primary goal is to brighten the day for the hospital’s doctors, nurses and other team members.

“When you hear someone say this made my day or this is what I needed today for Bayley to give them a hug, it’s awesome,” said Dan. “The fun one is when people threaten and say, 'I’m taking him home with me.' When you hear all that stuff it makes everything worthwhile.”

Learn more about Bayley here:

Twice a week Dan Boyd and his furry friend, a therapy dog named Bayley, make the rounds at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.

08/25/2025

Stroke awareness and support in Muncie

When it comes to stroke, every second matters. On this episode of Delaware County Today, IU Health Ball's Shelby Fritz, Speech-Language Pathologist, and Lisa Hayes, Stroke Program Coordinator, share how to recognize the signs of a stroke using the FAST method and why quick action can save lives.

They also announce the return of the S.E.A.S. Stroke Support Group (Support Each Other After Stroke), a free monthly group where survivors, families, and caregivers can find encouragement, education, and connection.

Listen here:

Stroke Awareness and Support in Muncie — On Delaware County Today with Steve Lindell, we shine a light on stroke recovery and community care. Shelby Fritz, Speech Pathologist at IU Health Ball Memorial, and Lisa Hayes, Stroke Program Coordinator, explain the signs of a stroke using the FAST method...

08/25/2025

Looking for a primary care doctor who explains, educates, and empowers?

Dr. Dashrath Gautam offers personalized, comprehensive care for adults. From preventive checkups to managing chronic conditions, his focus is on keeping you healthy and supported with care that puts your needs first.

In addition to English, he speaks French, German, Hindi, Spanish, Swedish, and Tamil, making it easier for more patients to feel heard and understood.

Dr. Gautam is currently accepting new patients. Book an appointment online today at https://iuhealth.org/find-providers/provider/dashrath-n-gautam-md-4058087 or call 765.287.8596.

08/22/2025

and cheers to 35 years!

Last week we celebrated Renee Twibell, PhD, RN, CNE, nurse scientist, for 35 years of dedicated service at IU Health Ball. Her expertise, compassion, and commitment have made a lasting difference for patients, families, and team members alike.

Thank you, Dr. Twibell, for all you’ve contributed and continue to bring to our team.

08/21/2025

Behind the scenes at IU Health Ball, there’s a team dedicated to finding better ways of doing things and helping patients, families, and team members by making processes smoother and more effective. This summer, that work got an exciting boost.

Meet Gage Ferrell, the hospital’s first Operational Excellence intern.

Ferrell, from New Castle, is spending his summer learning how to make healthcare processes better for both patients and team members. As part of his role, he’s creating a playbook to guide future interns who follow in his footsteps.

“I’m honored to be the first intern in this role,” he says. “My goal is to build a playbook with all the tools and answers future interns might need so they can step right in and get the full experience.”

Operational Excellence, he explains, is about helping people understand processes and improvements so they can do their jobs more effectively. “The best thing I’ve learned is that it can really be used anywhere,” Ferrell says.

Now entering his senior year at Indiana University East, Gage is a double major in Applied Health Science and Business Administration. He hopes to continue building a career in healthcare operations, starting with the foundation he’s laying at IU Health today.