Military digest 2/10/05

Patients who come to Cross Trails Medical Center are usually looking for some kind of healing.

Now the Cross Trails staff is hoping to heal military families by connecting them to soldiers serving in Iraq through videoconferencing.

Families can call the center, located at 408 S. Broadview to schedule their videoconference. The Cross Trails staff will provide extended hours and weekend scheduling to make the service available to as many families as possible.

"Cross Trails Medical Center is so proud to be able to offer this free service to our military families," CEO Vicki Smith said. "It will be an ongoing effort to show our appreciation for those serving in the military."

Families can also bring a videocassette to record the visit.

"By offering the families a chance to record this encounter, it will be a memory to last a lifetime," Smith said.

The videoconferencing program is coordinated by the University of Missouri Health Care's telehealth program and the Freedom Calls Foundation of New York.

For more information or to schedule an appointment at Cross Trails, contact Sara Michie-Higson at 339-1196 or shigson@crosstrails.us. Those interested can also contact the Missouri Telehealth Network at (573) 884-7958 or www.telehealth.MUhealth.org.