St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital

May the New Year bring joy, peace, and happiness to you and your entire family. Happy New Year 2021!

In a quiet moment before we administered our first COVID-19 vaccinations, Chaplain Jessica Chicken, St. Mary's Manager of Spiritual Care, delivered a beautiful and inspiring prayer for the occasion. It was so moving, we wanted to share it with you. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas from the St. Mary's family to yours. Christmas is a time to reflect on the whole year. A time of renewal and hope, giving, helping and sharing, but most of all, love.

Enjoy the virtual lighting of the 2020 Auxiliary Love Lights Christmas Tree, and hear a special message from Jeff English, President of St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital.

Staff members at Sacred Heart Hospital receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Brenda Powell, RN receives the vaccine.

Jami Bolman Taylor, a registered nurse who works on the Medical/Surgical Unit at St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital and in other units as needed, received St. Mary’s system-wide DAISY Award for nursing excellence on Thursday. Jami started as a new nurse and in her four years at Sacred Heart has become one of our most valued employees, says nurse manager Kim Driver. Jami is energetic and enthusiastic, and there is no challenge she is afraid to tackle. She is truly an extraord...inary nurse. Jami's nomination highlighted the special care she provided to a dying patient and their family. The patient was unable to receive visitors, but Jami took extraordinary measures to ensure the family could stay in touch, including bringing the patient’s bed to the window so they could see each other in person, as well as numerous virtual visiting measures such as helping the patient record a message for them and posting written prayers and notes of love throughout the patient’s room. This example shows beautifully not only what kind of nurse Jami is, but what kind of person she is, says Sacred Heart President Jeff English. No matter what the need is, Jami is always willing to lend a hand. In addition to her work as a staff nurse, Jami often serves as charge nurse for the medical/surgical unit and floats to other areas when needed, including the mother/baby unit and critical care unit. She also works nights on occasion. More at https://buff.ly/37H3Mcb

St. Mary's Health Care System is providing free and fresh food to our community! Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the Farmers to Families Food Box Program will distribute up to $3 billion of fresh produce, dairy, and meat products to families in need. USDA identified eligible counties within each state, and two St. Mary's hospitals are located in counties eligible to receive food boxes- St. Mary's Hosp...ital in Clarke County and Sacred Heart Hospital in Franklin County. St. Mary's is excited to collaborate in this special community event with Metz Culinary Management, our regional foodservice vendor, and with Sysco Atlanta. Every food box is 30-40 pounds of fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat, and eggs. Each hospital has approximately 1250 food boxes to distribute to families in need of food on a first-come, first-serve basis. No documentation, identification, or paperwork is needed to receive the food box. St. Mary's Health Care System Farmers to Families Dates 1. Friday, October 30, 9 a.m.- noon, Sacred Heart Hospital, 367 Clear Creek Dr, Lavonia, GA 30553. Please drive towards the left side of the hospital near the Wellness Center to the distribution site. You may remain in your vehicle and the food box will be placed in your backseat or trunk. 2. Saturday, October 31, 9 a.m.- noon, St. Mary's Hospital, 139 Alps Road, Athens, GA 30606. Please drive through the Alps or Broad Street entrances, and the distribution site will be on St. Mary's campus behind Zoe's Kitchen. You may remain in your vehicle and the food box will be placed in your backseat or trunk. Read more https://buff.ly/3mdIRkO

As this historic and challenging year nears its end, there is still time to support St. Mary's rural hospitals and get full credit on your Georgia state taxes for your contribution through Georgia HEART -- the Georgia Rural Hospital Expense Credit Program. Pass-through business entities can also enjoy state and federal tax benefits through the program. If you pay Georgia income taxes, you are eligible for a 100% state income tax credit for contributions made through the program up to $5,000 for individuals or $10,000 for married couples and pass-through owners. Please be sure to designate St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital or St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital when you sign up. Learn more at https://buff.ly/34iaDXo or watch this video from Georgia HEART: https://buff.ly/3jiPKjb

Get your flu shot. The CDC cites the yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. It is especially important to get the flu shot this year. More at https://buff.ly/3cSlni1

Join us as we celebrate National Pharmacy Week: October 18-24th! National Pharmacy Week was created to recognize the vital contributions that pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians make every day to patient care. Please know that we seek to ensure that medication use is optimal, safe, and effective for all people all of the time, providing a positive impact for those we serve!

Over the last months, many of us have a new appreciation for our teachers/educators. As many teachers and educators return to teaching in school and join other workers on the front line, it's time to show our appreciation and give thanks for everything they do. St. Mary's Health Care System would like to express our sincerest gratitude and encourages you to do the same. Comment your thanks, tag a teacher you know below or share the post with your network and help us show our appreciation to all teachers and educators.

Looking to get your flu shot? Our Primary Care Providers offer flu shots with offices in Athens-Clarke, Oconee, Greene, and Franklin counties. Find a location at https://buff.ly/3cSlni1

Thankful for the recent sweet surprise from Lavonia United Methodist Church cookies for healthcare workers !! #thoughtful #muchappreciated

Who should be vaccinated against seasonal flu? Everyone six months of age and older who does not suffer from a life-threatening allergy to the flu vaccine or any ingredient in it should receive a flu vaccine every fall. Talk with your doctor to ensure you or your children receive the flu vaccine. More at https://buff.ly/3cSlni1

Group fitness classes are back at Sacred Heart Wellness Center starting Oct. 5! Join us for the return of our group classes. Classes will be outside (weather permitting) to enable social distancing. You must be a current and active member to attend classes. Bring your own personal mat and water. Group Fitness Class Schedule:... - Monday: Pilates - 5:30-6:30 p.m. - Tuesday: Kickboxing - 5:30-6:30 p.m. - Thursday: Pilates - 5:30-6 p.m. - Thursday: Kickboxing - 6-7 p.m. Info at https://buff.ly/36hEVLm

Flu season, which is when outbreaks of the flu are common, typically runs from October to May, usually peaking between December and February. St. Mary's Health Care System recommends getting the flu shot between late September and late October this year. Info at https://buff.ly/3cSlni1

This week is National Surgical Technologists week, and we would be remiss if we did not highlight the important contributions our surgical technologists make in the operating room every day. For those who don't know, our surgical technologists are responsible for a wide range of tasks in the OR, such as preparing instruments and equipment for a procedure, dressing the surgeons in scrubs and assisting them throughout an operation, and ensuring that everything is sterile and sa...fe. We currently have three Surgical Tech positions available: - Certified Surgical Tech OR Weekend Option 7p-7a: https://buff.ly/3kC25zP - St. Mary's Athens Certified Surgical Tech OR-11a-7:30p: https://buff.ly/35VeMBL - Certified Surgical Technician Main OR - Days with Call: https://buff.ly/2ZX9K45

Sept. 17 is National Physician Suicide Awareness Day. Medicine is a high-stress profession especially now and physician suicide is a tremendous concern in health care. Help "Be the 1" to help save a life, not only of a physician, but of anyone in the community who is at risk. Learn more at https://buff.ly/2kTpzna