IU Health Ball, Blackford & Jay, 2401 W University Avenue, Muncie, IN (2025)

07/31/2025

IU Health East Region provides free high school physicals

Over the past few months, the IU Health East Region has been busy providing physicals at local high schools to student athletes. A team led by the primary care offices provided sports physicals at no cost to more than 1100 athletes at 10 local schools across Delaware, Blackford and Jay counties. New this year was a clinic at Blackford High School and a clinic held at IU Health Jay for students from Ft. Recovery High School in Ohio.

“It has been wonderful to see team members and providers from not only our primary care offices but other areas of IU Health Ball, Blackford and Jay, step up to provide this free service for our local students," says Dan Vanderbilt, IU Health East Region Primary Care Practice Operations Manager. "This is an important outreach that is offered after hours and reaches so many families across the region. What excites me the most about these events is the opportunity for team members across the region to come together for a common cause and spend time with fellow team members to forge new relationships. We look forward to growing this program to help more students along with providing more opportunities for team members to serve our communities. Be on the lookout for opportunities to get involved for 2026."

07/31/2025

Is it a trip to the emergency room or Urgent Care? Do you need to see a doctor in person, or can you do a virtual visit from the comfort of home instead?

Knowing where to seek care can save you time and money—and help us reserve space in our emergency room for the sickest patients.

Need to see a doctor? See wait times and get care now: iuhealth.org/get-care-now

07/31/2025

Meet Evan, our newest student team member at the Erskine Green Training Institute. He is from Monticello, IN, and is training at IU Health Ball as a patient transporter. He enjoys the new experiences and the opportunity to improve his future that EGTI offers him.

In his spare time, Evan enjoys watching horror movies. When he graduates from EGTI in October, he would like to pursue a career in the medical field.

07/30/2025

Partners from the Healthy Community Alliance (HCA) joined forces with two community events in July to offer coordinated health and wellness services in a “Village”-style setting.

The HCA Jay workgroup began organizing in the spring to support the Jay County Public Library’s Community Hero Celebration on July 10. Several HCA partners—including Meridian Health Services, IU Health and the Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition—participated in the event, engaging with superheroes, first responders and community members alike.

For the fourth consecutive year, HCA partners in Muncie collaborated with Urban Light Community Church to host a health outreach event for the Industry Neighborhood on July 11. More than 100 residents received services including blood pressure screenings, A1c testing, insurance navigation support, hands-only CPR training, safe sleep demonstrations and sign-ups for free mammograms and lung cancer screenings, among many other valuable resources.

07/29/2025

A new chapel for reflection, prayer, and comfort

The Chapel at IU Health Ball was a small, cozy space that had hosted weddings and served as a safe haven for patients and their families seeking comfort and prayer.

While the space offered warmth and intimacy, it lacked windows and was often too small to accommodate larger groups comfortably. Recognizing the need for a more welcoming and spacious environment, the team at Ball made the decision to relocate the chapel to a high-traffic area with ample room and natural light.

“We want to have adequate space for everyone,” says Rev. Kevin Bockus, director of Chaplaincy for the East Region. “Allowing team members and patients to have a space to meditate, be quiet, and pray helps them find meaning and purpose during times when those things may feel challenged.”

The new chapel is located on the first floor of Ball, directly across from Registration. Enhancements to the space include a designated private area with prayer rugs and an art installation called the "memorial tree," featuring magnetic leaves where visitors can write the names of loved ones and attach them to the tree.

The chapel is open 24 hours a day and is open to all. As the sign outside reads: All people, all faiths, all times.

The new location has also allowed for a more centralized office space for the Chaplaincy team. While chaplains continue to travel throughout the hospital, the area near the chapel now includes office space, allowing them to remain close during times of need.

07/29/2025

IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold 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 No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. 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 Ball is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” Lisa Hayes, MSN, MBA, RN, Stroke Program coordinator, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. “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 Delaware County 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.

IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital also received the American Heart Association’s Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy.

Additionally, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

07/18/2025

IU Health Ball experienced a power disruption due to area storms this morning. Systems are now functioning as expected, and our teams remain focused on resolving any lingering issues. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

07/16/2025

One year sober, one life transformed

By the time Hayden Brucker reached college, the weight of years-long mental health struggles had taken a toll. Anxiety and depression had followed him since middle school. When substance use entered the picture, everything started to close in.

“I was depressed. It felt like I was trapped, like there was no way out,” he says. “I thought this was going to be the rest of my life.”

After completing a treatment program in Indianapolis, Brucker was referred to IU Health’s Addiction Treatment and Recovery Center (ATRC) in Muncie. The ATRC offers outpatient treatment for adolescents and adults, making it possible for patients to continue with work, school, and family responsibilities while receiving care.

That flexibility, paired with individualized support, is key. In 2023, the center supported more than 230 individuals, including 179 new patients, with a 97% completion rate in its intensive outpatient program.

Care at the ATRC is built around a whole-person model. Patients have access to individual, group, and family therapy, medication-assisted treatment, relapse prevention strategies, mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy, and wraparound medical and behavioral health services.

For Brucker, that meant attending weekly therapy, connecting with a peer recovery coach, and receiving support that extended far beyond clinical care. The program helped him build the tools he needed to move forward and rebuild a life that felt steady, meaningful, and his own.

“The team helped me become stable,” he says. “That all happened after I started the treatment program. They helped me rebuild my relationships with my partner, my family, and my friends.”

One of the most impactful parts of his journey was his therapist, Caroline Cox, MSW, LSW. “She’s amazing,” Brucker says. “She’s compassionate and understanding, and I feel like she really gets me.”

Now, he is enrolled in a graduate program in Emerging Media Design and Development. He also works full time at the Ball State Foundation—his first job out of college—which he describes as very rewarding.

That new stability is matched by something even more significant: he recently celebrated one year of sobriety. It's a milestone that once felt out of reach.

“I honestly didn’t think I’d get this far,” he says. “But I’m proud of where I am now.”

He continues to attend Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings and often shares his story with others.

“If I’m twenty-three and doing this, I know others can too,” he says. “Don’t give up on yourself. There’s a way out. You just have to keep going and know that help is out there.”

As he begins his second year of recovery, Brucker hopes his story will offer hope to anyone still struggling and a reminder that transformation is possible with the right support.

07/14/2025

Bekah Clawson, president and chief executive officer of Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, was joined by team members to accept the Healthy Community Alliance’s "100,000 Award." The award was presented during the annual HCA Recognition Luncheon and To***co Free Coalition Celebration. Individuals representing more than 40 HCA partners from Blackford, Delaware, and Jay counties attended the event.

The Healthy Community Alliance was launched in 2016 as a collective impact model health coalition. Today, its partner organizations in Delaware, Blackford and Jay counties seek to promote increased physical activity, improved nutrition and to***co prevention and cessation within their own sphere of influence. Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital serves as the backbone organization and provides resources to support the work of the HCA.

Lindsey Cox, of Purdue Extension and a member of the HCA Steering Committee—which selects the annual "100,000 Award" recipient—shared remarks about this year’s honoree.

“Second Harvest is a constant innovator and is always willing to jump in and participate when asked and needed, such as helping our friends at the Jay County Health Department expand food access in very small, rural towns,” said Cox. “They have supported the HCA’s Grow-a-Row initiative by helping design a logo and flyer and by spreading the word.”

Earlier this year, Second Harvest hosted a screening of the documentary "Food, Insecure in Muncie," followed by a thoughtful panel discussion. Since the February screening, they have organized additional follow-up events, meetings and discussions.

They have also partnered with local organizations such as the Ross Community Center to continue the conversation about tackling food insecurity and poverty. These efforts include exploring concepts like “food as a utility”—the idea that access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food should be considered a fundamental right. They also promoted the use of Propel, a user-friendly smartphone app that helps users manage and track their Electronic Benefit Transfer accounts.

Second Harvest maintains an updated list of food pantries and free meal sites in the eight counties it serves. The organization continues to meet neighbors where they are by offering mobile market shopping and neighborhood van volunteer food distributions.

“They value dignity and compassion toward those they serve,” says Cox. “From what I have witnessed, their mission is truly a labor of love by both staff and volunteers.”

The HCA "100,000 Award," given in memory of George Branam, MD, is presented annually to an individual or organization that demonstrates outstanding leadership, innovative collaboration, and unwavering dedication to improving the health and well-being of local communities.

07/09/2025

Children between the ages of 6 and 16 who've lost someone special are invited to join Camp Good Grief in Muncie.

From 9 am – 3:30 pm on Saturday, July 19, participants will learn about positive coping and how to preserve memories while connecting with others experiencing loss.

Participation is free and spots are limited, so sign up soon: https://reg.learningstream.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0026-0021-8da612eea5d445b4b4239c5184bc6b60&fbclid=IwY2xjawLbnZJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF2ZWhSN3kzRElKek1XcHhYAR7nIsk9OemoTy6L7oOGG4e8-mVK2qH0eego-94wIHWg3FzHTyN-aTbdLzeUdg_aem_eOnAZIoyKSdwsy2ZGU7dLw

07/05/2025

☀️ Summer heat can do more than make you uncomfortable—it can be dangerous. ☀️

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are serious conditions, but they’re also preventable when you know what to look for.

Heat exhaustion happens when your body overheats and struggles to cool down. Watch for:
• Heavy sweating
• Dizziness or weakness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Cool, pale skin

Move to a cool place, rest, and sip water. If symptoms don’t improve within an hour, seek medical care.

Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Call 911 if you notice:
• Body temperature of 104°F or higher
• Confusion or slurred speech
• Red, hot, or dry skin
• Vomiting
• Rapid breathing or heartbeat

Take action right away: move to a cooler place, apply cold compresses, and get medical help.

Anyone can develop heat-related illness, but older adults, children, outdoor workers, and people with certain health conditions are more at risk.

Stay safe this summer by drinking plenty of water, limiting time in extreme heat, and looking out for those who may be more vulnerable.

07/04/2025

The Fourth of July is a time for cookouts, swimming, and celebrating with family and friends. For many, fireworks are part of the fun. But they also come with real risks.

In 2023, 9,700 people were treated for firework-related injuries. Nearly three out of four of those injuries happened in June and July. One of the most common sources? Sparklers.

Sparklers burn at around 2,000 degrees—hot enough to melt some metals. They can easily catch clothing on fire and cause serious burns, especially to children. If you're celebrating with little ones, consider safer alternatives like glow sticks, bubbles, confetti poppers or streamers.

Some other important reminders from Erin Jenkins, Injury Prevention Coordinator at IU Health Ball:

• Only use fireworks outside, away from people, homes, and anything flammable

• Never handle fireworks while under the influence

• Always keep fireworks out of the hands of children

• Use protective eyewear when lighting fireworks

• Keep a bucket of water nearby and soak all used fireworks before throwing them away

We want your holiday to be full of joy, not preventable injuries. Celebrate safely and have a happy Independence Day!

IU Health Ball, Blackford & Jay

07/31/2025

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