Pregnancy care does not end after childbirth, and many providers are renaming the weeks after delivery "the fourth trimester" to emphasize that mothers need as much care after pregnancy as they do during. The weeks after delivery are an important time for a mother's physical and emotional recovery and can bring health concerns that require medical attention.

For new moms in Arkansas, knowing the warning signs of complications in the postpartum period and where to turn for help can be especially important.

What if you could have more say in who provides your care, when you receive it, and how that care fits into your daily life?

For Arkansans over the age of 18 living with a disability, chronic health condition, or long-term care need, those decisions can make a meaningful difference. Having a caregiver you know and trust—or simply having more flexibility around your schedule—can help care feel more personal and better aligned with your needs.

For some Arkansas Medicaid beneficiaries, self-directed care may provide that flexibility.

Adversity is a part of life. Difficult experiences can affect our health and well-being, especially when they happen during childhood. But those experiences do not have to define a person’s future.

Getting kids to eat their fruits and vegetables can sometimes feel easier said than done. Between busy schedules, picky eating, the convenience of processed foods, and the cost and availability of fresh foods, families can face plenty of obstacles to putting more produce on the plate.

And many children aren't getting enough. Dieticians identify modern youth nutrition as “overfed and undernourished.”

Food poisoning can happen to anyone. Each year, an estimated 48 million people in the United States get sick from a foodborne illness. About 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Foodborne illness can happen when food becomes contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins, or other harmful substances. Contamination can occur at many points—from growing and processing food to preparing it in a restaurant or your own kitchen. A recent outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to iceberg lettuce is a reminder that even foods we often eat raw can carry harmful germs or parasites.

What does quality improvement actually mean? And how does it improve the care patients receive? Dr. Russell Kohl, family physician and chief medical officer of TMF Health Quality Institute, recently appeared on AFMC TV to discuss quality improvement and why it is important for Arkansas and other rural states.