Southeast Georgia Health System will host an RN Hiring Event on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., in the Linda S. Pinson Conference Center on the Brunswick Campus, 2415 Parkwood Drive, Brunswick.

The Health System has several opportunities for RNs, including long term care, maternity, medical/surgical, oncology, orthopaedics, operating room, post surgical, telemetry and flex team. A sign on bonus as well as relocation reimbursement assistance is available for eligible candidates.

Attendees can speak with Human Resources representatives and complete applications during the event to expedite the hiring process. Applicants should bring license verification and proof of identification.

In addition to free valet parking and smoothies from Smoothie King, guided tours of the Health System’s Brunswick Campus will be available.

Reservation and walk-in appointments are available. For more information, call 912-466-3115 or send an email to nurserecruiter@sghs.org.

About Southeast Georgia Health System
Southeast Georgia Health System is a not-for-profit health system comprised of two acute care hospitals, two long term care facilities, three immediate care centers, five family medicine centers and numerous employed physician practices. The Health System has multiple outpatient specialty care centers, including the only CyberKnife^® Program in the region and one of only four in Georgia, and a Cancer Care Center accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. In 2018, the Health System’s Brunswick and Camden Campus hospitals were recognized in Georgia Trend magazine’s “Top Georgia Hospitals” in the medium-sized and small-sized categories, respectively. For more information, visit sghs.org.

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A free class on childbirth is offered at Wayne Memorial Hospital Saturday, Sept 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the hospital cafeteria conference room. This class is ideal for those expectant mothers 25 weeks pregnant or later by the class date. Those interested in registering may do so by calling (912) 530-3118 or (912) 530-3117.

Topics of the class will include the normal process of pregnancy, labor and delivery with an emphasis on conscious prepared childbirth. Stress is placed on a medically safe delivery in the hospital under the direction of a physician. Additional topics covered are infant care and infant feeding. Attendees are encouraged to invite a support person to the class.

Wayne Memorial Hospital, whose mission is to provide high quality health care services to all patients, built a state-of-the-art facility in 2007. It is the third largest employer in Wayne County with 500 employees, 84 beds and is a two-time winner of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals Small Hospital of the Year Award.

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South Georgia Medical Center will be offering its popular “Freedom From Smoking” cessation program at the SGMC Main Campus as part of its ongoing efforts to help smokers kick the habit and live smoke free.

The Freedom From Smoking program features sessions led by trained, certified American Lung Association facilitators who understand the motivations and rationalizations of smoking, and use a positive behavior change approach that teaches people how to become permanent non-smokers. Participants attend six weekly sessions where eight interactive lessons are presented.

The free program begins on Tuesdays, beginning October 1 in the conference room at the SGMC Pearlman Cancer Center.  The classes begin at 6pm and last for approximately one hour for 6 consecutive Tuesdays. It is important for participants to complete the entire series of classes to get the most benefit.

“In this step-by-step program, participants will receive instruction and peer support to help them quit smoking,” says Mary Ann Griffith, RN, smoking program facilitator.

As a special incentive, the $25 program fee is waived for all participants. Visit sgmc.org to register or call 229-259-4022. Space is limited.

According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US, yet millions of Americans still smoke. For more information about smoking and its dangers, visit the American Cancer Society website at www.cancer.org

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September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and South Georgia Medical Center will be holding a free prostate cancer screening on Tuesday, September 17 at 5:30pm at the Pearlman Cancer Center.

The screening will include a lab test for the prostate specific antigen (PSA test) and a prostate exam provided by SGMC affiliated Urologist Dr. Mike Chiang, Dr. Patrick Parker, Dr. Jacek Sosnowski and Physicians’ Assistant Brad Ridge, PA-C.

Pre-registration is required by calling 229-433-4022. Men must meet the American Cancer Society Screening criteria to be eligible for this free program.  As an added incentive this year, screening participants may register for a drawing to win a 55 inch smart television.

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The loss of a loved one can be an emotional roller coaster, filled with an intense and sometimes debilitating mix of emotions such as sadness, relief, anger, depression, worry, and loneliness. For adults grieving the loss of a loved one, St. Mary’s Health Care System offers Life After Loss, a free bereavement and grief support group, on the first, third, and fifth Thursdays of each month from 7-8 p.m. at St. Mary’s Hospital on Baxter Street.

Life After Loss is designed to help those who are experiencing the loss of a loved one work through their experience, express their feelings, and find support among others facing a similar loss. People can attend as many sessions as they wish and no registration is required. At each meeting, facilitator Rev. Jessica Chicken will help pose thoughtful questions and guide discussion of healthy and meaningful ways to cope with grief.

Rev. Chicken is a critical care and palliative care chaplain with St. Mary’s who holds master’s degrees in divinity and thanatology, a field focused specifically on grief and loss. She has more than six years of experience as a hospital chaplain, including extensive work with grieving families. Rev. Chicken is also a certified therapy dog handler who often works with her trained Schnauzer, Ollie.

“We offered a six-week trial version of Life after Loss last fall and it was well attended,” Rev. Chicken said. “We have made the group permanent so that we can continue to assist people in learning healthy and effective ways to cope with the loss of someone they love.”

Life After Loss is free and open to any adult who would like to attend. Meetings are held in the Lobby Conference Room of St. Mary’s Hospital, 1230 Baxter St., Athens. The meeting room is easily accessible from the hospital’s parking deck and main entrance.

For information, please call 706.389.3426. If Rev. Chicken is not at her desk, please leave a message and she will return your call as soon as possible.

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ATLANTA – Northside Hospital and the Gwinnett Health System are completing arrangements to combine their health care operations. The effective date of the new system is Wednesday, August 28.

The expanded Northside Hospital system will have 1,636 inpatient beds; more than 250 outpatient locations throughout Georgia; and nearly 21,000 employees and 3,500 physicians on staff.

Debbie Mitcham, longtime Chief Financial Officer and 25-year veteran of Northside Hospital, will be the new president and CEO of Northside’s Gwinnett health care campuses. Phil Wolfe, who served as president and CEO of the Gwinnett system for the past 13 years, has announced his retirement effective August 28. Other important leadership changes are occurring – all with the single goal of seamlessly integrating operations to strengthen this new, expanded system.

Patients of the Gwinnett Health System will notice virtually no changes in their regimen of treatment and care. Patient and family care is the central priority of the two systems, which are led by strong medical professionals with great passion for health care service.

Also, beginning on August 28:

· The Gwinnett Medical Center-Lawrenceville, located at 1000 Medical Center Blvd., will be called Northside Hospital Gwinnett.

· The Gwinnett Medical Center-Duluth, located at 3620 Howell Ferry Road, will be called Northside Hospital Duluth.

· The Gwinnett Extended Care Center at GMC-Lawrenceville, located at 650 Professional Drive, will be called the Northside Gwinnett Extended Care Center.

· The Glancy Rehabilitation Center, located at 3215 McClure Bridge Road in Duluth, will be called Northside Gwinnett Joan Glancy.

However, you will not see any rapid signage changes at these or other Gwinnett Health System locations – this process will be conducted gradually and with appropriate research, input, and planning. For care provided at Gwinnett locations beginning August 28, patient bills and statements will be addressed from Northside Hospital, and payments will be made to the same. For care received at Gwinnett locations prior to August 28, patient bills will come from and be payable to Gwinnett Medical Center.

For more information about patient billing and other updates, visit northsidegwinnett.com.

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Registration has opened for Camp Lean On Me, a children’s grief support event for kids who have lost a loved one.  The camp will be held on October 5^th and 6^th at the 4H Campground in Lake Park.  During this camp, kids will be engaged with professional counselors in age appropriate activities, including arts and crafts, that help explore and process their feelings of loss in a safe, supportive environment.  Camp Lean On Me is free to any child attending, and offered to children ages 6-17 years old.

Camp Lean On Me is part of Hospice of South Georgia’s Healing Hearts Youth Program.  Children who have experienced loss need support, encouragement, and healthy coping skills. The Healing Hearts Youth Program is designed to create a safe environment for kids to share their feelings with fun activities, and relate with other children experiencing a similar journey.  Other events offered to children attending Camp Lean On Me include a Spring Fling, Back to School Party, and Christmas party.

To register a child for Camp Lean On Me, contact Sherry Tierney, Bereavement Coordinator at Hospice of South Georgia- (229) 433-7039. The deadline to register for this year’s camp is September 17th, 2019.  Children participating in Camp Lean On Me do not need any affiliation to Hospice of South Georgia.

The Volunteer Auxiliary at South Georgia Medical Center recently contributed funds for hospital-based and community projects. The funds came from various Auxiliary fundraisers.

The Volunteer Auxilians, or Pink Ladies and Red Coats as they are called, work hard to sponsor fundraising projects at SGMC such as book sales, jewelry sales, linen sales, uniform sales and the Golden Galleria Gift Shop.  Profit goes back into the community in the form of donations to enhance healthcare services, scholarships and health-related programs.

This year, the Auxiliary used some of its funds to purchase 13 Staxi wheelchairs at a cost of $16,465. Staxi wheelchairs are designed to make transport safe, secure and quiet.  Staxi chairs are stackable, adjustable to the size and needs of patients and much easier to maneuver than traditional wheelchairs.

The SGMC Auxiliary also presented a check to the local Hungry at Home project. Hungry at Home was established to bridge the gap between home and school so children do not have to be hungry while away from school.

According to Jan Newton, Auxiliary President, 20 percent of families in Lowndes County are below the poverty level and struggle to meet the basic needs of their families. Many children do not receive proper meals away from school. This “nutritional gap” results not only in increased health risks but also diminished learning capacity and behavioral problems.

The Auxilians contributed $1,000 to support meeting the needs of these children.  Hungry at Home volunteers provide children with backpacks on Friday afternoon packed with meals and snacks for the weekend.  The children return the empty backpacks to school on Monday for replenishing.

According to Assistant Administrator for Communication & Public Affairs, Johnny Ball, the Auxilians donate hundreds of hours annually to perform tasks and assist with fundraisers.  “Our hospital and community benefits greatly from the services of these loyal volunteers,” he said. “For over 63 years, the Auxilians have raised money, morale and levels of care for patients and their families.”

Additional information on the Auxiliary is available on the hospital’s website, www.sgmc.org/volunteer-services.

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Hamilton Medical Center (HMC) has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines^®Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

(HMC) earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

“Hamilton is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients by implementing the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines–Stroke initiative,” said Meagan Darnell, Stroke Program coordinator. “The tools and resources provided help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes.”

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

“We are pleased to recognize Hamilton Medical Center for their commitment to stroke care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, MD, national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee and executive vice chair of Neurology, director of Acute Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get With The Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”

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Award recognizes NGMC’s efforts to prevent HPV-related cancers

Gainesville, Ga. – Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) is one of only three hospitals in Georgia – and 24 hospital systems in the Southeast – to receive the American Cancer Society’s HPV Cancer Free Partnership Award for 2019.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recently recognized NGMC for its efforts to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) related cancers. The HPV Cancer Free Partnership Award provides NGMC with funding specifically designated to support evidence-based interventions aimed at preventing HPV-related cancers.

“We’re honored to be recognized by the American Cancer Society as a leader in HPV prevention efforts and excited to partner together to better educate those in our community,” says Jayme Carrico, executive director of Oncology Services for NGMC.

The HPV Partnership Award is given to hospital systems that have embraced the Mission HPV Cancer Free campaign and are currently working with the ACS to develop and implement prevention and awareness initiatives for HPV-related cancers.

“Through funding from this partnership, we’ve been able to reach areas of our community most at-risk,” adds Carrico. “By collaborating with Good News Clinics, which provides free medical care to uninsured patients, Northeast Georgia Medical Center has hosted three HPV prevention and educational programs so far in 2019, with more to come. Additionally, we’ve been able to help reduce barriers for women in our community in need of cervical cancer screenings – particularly those who have rarely or never been screened.” 

About 14 million people, including teens, become infected with HPV each year, and an estimated 80 percent of people will get HPV during their lifetime. While most HPV infections go away on their own without lasting health problems, there is no way to know if an infection will lead to cancer. HPV infection is known to cause six different types of cancer: cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal, penile and throat cancers.

Approximately 31,500 men and women each year are diagnosed with an HPV-related cancer. While there is no current treatment available for HPV infection, vaccination and screening can help prevent most HPV-related cancers. 

The American Cancer Society recommends boys and girls ages 11 to 12 receive the two-shot HPV vaccine series. HPV vaccination prevents an estimated 90% of HPV cancers when given at the recommended age, but cancer protection decreases as age at vaccination increases.

“The American Cancer Society is determined to protect the future of every boy and girl by preventing six types of cancer with the HPV vaccine,” said Debbie Saslow, PhD, senior director of HPV and women’s cancers for the ACS. “We have a historic opportunity, and all we have to do is make sure the children in our lives are vaccinated and the women in our lives are screened.”

For information about NGMC’s nationally recognized Cancer Services, visit nghs.com/cancer. For additional information about HPV-related cancers and the ACS’s work to reduce them, visit cancer.org/HPV.

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ABOUT NORTHEAST GEORGIA MEDICAL CENTER

Since 1951, Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) has been on a mission of improving the health of our community in all we do. With hospitals located in Gainesville, Braselton, Winder and Dahlonega, the four NGMC campuses have a total of more than 700 beds and more than 1100 medical staff members representing more than 50 specialties. NGMC is part of Northeast Georgia Health System, a non-profit that cares for more than 1 million people across more than 18 counties. Learn more at www.nghs.com.