Ozark Health gets new physician

 Ozark Health is proud to announce a new physician that will be joining Ozark Internal Medicine and Pediatrics.  Dr. Brandon Murphy is from Imboden, Arkansas and graduated medical school from UAMS. 

According to Murphy, “I chose internal medicine and pediatrics because I enjoy seeing patients of all ages and the continuity of care it provides.”  He will be joining Dr. Coward and Dr. Zimmerman by July 5th and will be on staff at the Ozark Health Medical Center.   Dr. Murphy stated, “I prefer the small town environment similar to where I was raised and am very much looking forward to working with the community of Clinton.”

Dr. Murphy spends his spare time volunteering for the River City Ministry Indigent Medical Clinic.  The clinic is a church sponsored ministry that serves the underprivileged population in  North Little Rock.   “River City offers me the opportunity to help those who have no other access to medical care, which remains a big problem in our society.  It also provides a Christian atmosphere for those who visit and work there,”  according to Murphy.

According to Sara Zimmerman, Foundation Marketing Coordinator, “Ozark Health is looking forward to working with Dr. Murphy.   To be able to recruit a doctor with high credentials and that is looking for a home-town atmosphere is priceless.”

If you would like to set up an appointment with Dr. Murphy please call 501-745-3033.  If you have any questions about Ozark Health, please call 501-745-7000, or visit us on the web at www.myozarkhealth.com 

Tim Shaw, CWS General Manager is shown getting his blood tested by Ozark Health RN, D. J. Leggitt.

CWS Open House & Health Fair a big success

 Community Water System's recent Open House & Health Fair drew large numbers of  visitors from Greers Ferry and the surrounding area.  The event gave everyone in attendance an opportunity to see the new CWS Operations Center, tour the entire water processing facility and get some valuable medical information all in one morning.  Health Fair activities,  conducted by Ozark Health of Clinton, offered blood pressure testing as well as a six step blood test called a Cholestach.  All tours and medical testing was provided free of charge  along with a lavish buffet table of snacks prepared for the visitors by the ladies of CWS.  Although no final decisions have been made, there is talk that this CWS Open House / Health Fair may become an annual event.  We will keep you posted.

Financial Focus

Five Things to Focus on Instead of Market Volatility

 As an investor, you need to realize that the stock market will always have its ups and downs. You can't do anything about these fluctuations - but you don't have to let them wreak havoc on your investment decisions.

Of course, during those occasions when your brokerage statement contains unwelcome results, you may be tempted to take action by selling off some "losers." But is this a good move? After all, your investments may only be down temporarily. Furthermore, if you decide you must immediately lower your risk level, and you replace your stocks with fixed-income vehicles, such as certificates of deposit, you could harm your portfolio diversification, reduce your growth prospects and slow your progress toward your important goals, such as a comfortable retirement.

So, what should you do? Here's a suggestion: Look beyond your investment statements and seek out the following five pieces of information:

*          Long-term returns - How have your investments done over the last five or ten years? The long-term returns will give you a truer picture - and possibly a more positive one - of how you are doing. Be aware that a down market can drag down the prices of many stocks and stock-based investments. By looking at how your investments have fared over a period of several years, you can get a sense of whether they are just going through a bad spell along with the rest of the market, or if they are, in fact, chronic under-performers.

*          Total difference in assets from a year ago - If you've been investing regularly, your balance today may still be higher than it was a year ago, even if the market is down. That "bottom line" may help encourage you to maintain your long-term perspective and to continue following your investment strategy.

*          Asset allocation balance - Are you properly diversified? By investing in a wide range of stocks, bonds, government securities and other vehicles, you can increase your chances of success while reducing the impact of short-term volatility. Ideally, your investment mix should be based on your risk tolerance, time horizon and long-term goals. You may want to work with an investment professional to design an asset allocation plan that's right for you.

*          Price/earnings ratio - If the prices of your stocks have dropped, you might want to buy even more shares. Some of the world's greatest investors, such as Warren Buffet, constantly look for high-quality stocks whose price is temporarily depressed. By doing just a little research, you can find a stock's "price/earnings" ratio (P/E). A high P/E indicates that a stock's price is expensive, relative to its earnings, while a low P/E may be an indicator that a stock is attractively priced.

*          Dividends paid - Even if a stock's price is down, it might continue to pay dividends. And if you reinvest these dividends into the stock, you are adding more shares, which can pay off for you if the stock's price rises again. (Keep in mind, though, that not all stocks pay dividends, and dividends can be increased, decreased or totally eliminated at any point without notice.)

Your brokerage statement can give you a snapshot of your investments - but snapshots rarely provide depth or context. To be a successful investor, look at the "big picture."