Education and Community Outreach

Programs available:

• Heart Power Program: Outreach to 3rd-grade classes in Ottumwa Schools 4 times per year. For more information, contact Tomi Shull at 641-684-2664
  • Session 1: Heart – In this session, we bring a pig's heart to school for the kids to look at and feel, and the heart's anatomy will be discussed.
  • Session 2: Tobacco – In this session, we cover why it is essential not to smoke or use other tobacco products.
  • Session 3: Exercise – In this session, we will discuss the importance of exercise and how it affects the heart.
  • Session 4: Nutrition – this session will cover serving sizes, food groups, and how to read labels.
• Brain Injury Support Group: The Brain Injury Support group meets on the 3^rd Monday of each month at 10:00 am in the Ottumwa Regional Health Center Cafeteria. For more information, contact Tomi Shull at 641-684-2664.
• Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCEDP): Physicians refer women for mammograms who do not have insurance or insurance that does not pay and are low income. For more information, contact Tomi Shull at 641-684-2664.
• Prenatal Classes: These classes include information on pregnancy, breathing, and relaxation techniques for labor and delivery, as well as information regarding the hospital stay, recovery time, and care of an infant. Four 2.5-hour sessions are offered on the first four Sundays or Mondays of every other month in Conference Rooms A-C at ORHC. The Classes are held from 3:30 – 6:00 pm on Sundays and 6:00 – 8:30 pm on Mondays (Classes are held in February, April, June, August, October, and December). You must register for this class. For more information, call the Women and Family Center at 641-684-2641.
• Breastfeeding Classes: This class includes information to assist women in having a positive breastfeeding experience. Topics include: how the breast functions, correct positioning techniques, what to expect in the early days, and breastfeeding women returning to work. A 2.5-hour class is offered in the afternoon of the second Saturday of most months on the 4^th floor in the Women and Family Center. You must register for this class. For more information, call the Women and Family Center at 641-684-2641.
• Cancer Support Group is a meeting sponsored by the McCreery Cancer Center. The support group meets monthly and is an opportunity for patients and family members to meet and discuss ways to cope with cancer's challenges and uncertainties. It is designed to meet the individual needs of people at all stages of cancer treatment, from diagnosis through follow-up care. People diagnosed with cancer sometimes need assistance coping with their disease's emotional and practical aspects. This group meets the second Wednesday of every month from 6 – 7 pm in the McCreery Cancer Center Conference Rooms. Patients with all types of cancer are welcome, along with family members or caregivers.