St. Mary's Health Care System

Please join us as we extend our congratulations and heartfelt thanks to Claire Bell (right in the photo), St. Mary's 2024 Volunteer of the Year! Volunteer Coordinator Melissa McDaniel (left in photo) notes that Claire joined St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary in October 2019 and had barely begun getting her feet when the COVID pandemic arrived, forcing us to stop all volunteer activities. Claire jumped right back in when volunteer activities resumed, helping us with COVID- and flu vaccine clinics, Love Lights, staff appreciation, cuddling NICU babies, leading Auxiliary committees and more. Any time there is a need for extra volunteers, Claire will be there. Thank you, Claire! You are wonderful!

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Devin Hicks to St. Mary’s Hometown Pediatrics! Dr. Hicks grew up in Gwinnett County, graduated from the University of Georgia, earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and has been practicing with The Ark Children’s Clinic/Mitchell Family Medicine in Marion, AR. We are honored that she is returning to the Peach State to be part of the St. Mary’s family! Learn more at https://bit.ly/4f6gtNZ

Can you believe it's already back-to-school season? To help you prepare, Dr. Rachel Hunt with St. Mary's Hometown Pediatrics has put together a few tips. The practice is also collecting school supplies to donate to children in need at Oconee County Primary and Oconee County Elementary schools. Learn more in our latest blog at https://bit.ly/3WBlcQl

We want to share our excitement with you: St. Mary’s Hospital has been named by U.S. News & World Report to its 2024-2025 Best Hospitals as a High Performing hospital for heart attack, stroke, hip replacement and knee replacement! This is the highest distinction a hospital can earn for U.S. News’ Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings, and this is the second year in a row in which we've been recognized for care in these four areas. https://bit.ly/3yjxVOh

Eating is a basic human need. So, why do we feel so bad about it? If you have struggled with dieting in the past and feel food is an uphill battle, join St. Mary's Dietitian Kathryn Filipiak, RDN, LD, for "How to Eat -- and Feel Good About It," a 6-week course on developing a healthy relationship with food. Learn more and sign up at https://bit.ly/4eVQPev

Be confident in consistent care. St. Mary’s Hospital’s dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and life-saving care has earned us our 16th consecutive Get With The Guidelines Gold-Plus Award from the American Heart Association. Get the full story at https://bit.ly/3WoY87o. Learn more about Get With the Guidelines at https://bit.ly/3RXNmSP.

Please join us in congratulating Rick Heaton, RN, on receiving St. Mary’s systemwide DAISY Award for nursing excellence. Rick provides care as part of the float pool at St. Mary’s Hospital, working in different units as needed. He was nominated by the loved one of an ICU patient who was greatly comforted by Rick as the patient neared the end of life. Congratulations, Rick – and thank you for the healing care you provide to our patients and their loved ones! Learn more at https://bit.ly/3Qk9k14.

Thank you to all those who have signed up to contribute to St. Mary's rural hospitals -- Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia and St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital in Greensboro -- through the Georgia HEART Rural Tax Credit program. There's still time to make a difference -- and get a 100% credit for your contribution on your state income taxes! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/dJNGUf5.

Congratulations to Tracy Wilkes, a housekeeper with Environmental Services at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital, who has received our July Spirit of Mercy Award. Tracy is a kind, compassionate, down-to-earth person described by her colleagues as “sent from heaven.” She does her job with intense dedication and then does more. For example, on busy days, she will answer a call light so the patient gets immediate attention, and then relay their need to the nurses. A colleague noted, “Infection control is a high priority for her. I have no doubt she is one of the reasons we have a 0% post-op infection rate.” Congratulations, Tracy – and thank you!

Registered dietitian Kathryn Filipiak used to think it was her job "to tell people exactly what to eat." Not anymore. "Now, my passion is to help people think positively about food and learn how to feed themselves reliably with enjoyable meals." If you are interested in learning more about nutrition and sustainable eating, check out Kathryn's latest blog at https://bit.ly/4eVQPev