[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 84 (Wednesday, June 6, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING OXFORD HEALTHCARE OF JOPLIN

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                            HON. BILLY LONG

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 6, 2012

  Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the reopening 
of Oxford HealthCare in Joplin, Missouri.
  Oxford HealthCare is a home care provider that serves more than 50 
counties in southwest and central Missouri. In 1975, Oxford HealthCare 
began operations in Joplin and Springfield, Missouri. On May 22, 2011, 
a tornado struck the Joplin community and destroyed Oxford's office. It 
was very important to Oxford HealthCare that they get to a new normal 
as quickly as possible because their patients and employees were 
dependent on them, and in their business there is no excuse not to show 
up for work.
  Hours after the tornado tore through Joplin, Destiny Church opened 
its doors to Oxford. By the next morning the Joplin and Springfield 
staff converged on the church with everything needed to do business. 
For weeks Oxford staff worked out of plastic tubs that held office and 
medical supplies and they used cell phones and laptops using a computer 
system that their IT Department was able to establish on the spot. 
Oxford was back to business as usual. The Zimmer Radio Group helped 
Oxford get word to their staff and patients that they were working out 
of Destiny Church.
  With the help of the entire company, within three days of the storm 
all 650 employees and patients were accounted for. Some had been in the 
path of the storm and lost their homes. Many suffered injuries.
  Immediately after the tornado employees who were suffering themselves 
continued to see their patients without fail. In those first days after 
the storm many Oxford staff stayed with the patients they were with 
during the storm, without going to their own homes, until they knew the 
patients were safe and had family to watch over them. In an effort to 
ensure that the community's clinical needs were being met, Oxford set 
up makeshift first aid stations throughout the neighborhoods that were 
in the path of the tornado. Volunteer nurses from the entire company 
took their vacation time to staff the tents from 8 5, seven days a week 
for a number of weeks, where 1,400 tetanus shots were given and first 
aid was administered.
  Oxford eventually left Destiny Church and set up a temporary office 
in Carthage as plans were being made to return to Joplin. The 
resilience of Oxford and its employees is amazing and I am honored to 
help Oxford celebrate the reopening of their new facility in Joplin.

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