The Community Health Improvement Network will host al unch and learn event focusing on ways to maintain a healthy heart.  The lunch and learn is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 14, at noon at NorthPark Church, located at 7770 Highway 39 North.

 

Dr. Jennifer Rodriguez, an interventional cardiologist will be the presenter at this month’s lunch and learn, sharing information about cardiovascular health.

 

“Coronary artery disease affects the major blood vessels that supply the heart muscle,” she said. “Symptoms of the disease may be different for men and women. For instance, men are more likely to have chest pain.”

 

CHIN President Beverly Knox said heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in Mississippi, and educating residents about the warning signs, symptoms and preventative steps to avoid cardiovascular health problems is a key part of CHIN’s mission.

 

“This will be one of the many community health education events sponsored by CHIN in partnership with Meridian area organizations, churches and hospitals,” she said. “We value the discussions between community residents and medical professionals that help make our communities more informed about their health. These open dialogues opportunities can help stop or even prevent more serious illnesses,” Knox said.

 

The CHIN mission is to facilitate collaboration among community and provider partners to create joint programs and cooperative ventures that improve and sustain health care access and quality delivery, especially for underserved and underprivileged populations in Lauderdale County and the surrounding area. Initiated in 2016, CHIN, a rural health network, recently merged into The Montgomery Institute. As a result, the Institute is taking on the CHIN mission to coordinate the community’s response to healthcare needs identified by community health assessments performed by hospitals and other organizations in Lauderdale County.

 

Current CHIN partners include: Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center, Alliance Health Center, City of Meridian, East Central Healthnet, East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, Greater Meridian Health Clinic, MS State Department of Health, Meridian Community College, Meridian Housing Authority, Mississippi State University-Meridian, Ochsner Rush Health, The Free Clinic of Meridian, The Phil Hardin Foundation and Weems Community Mental Health.