Whole-Person Care — Body, Mind and Spirit | 2024, Volume 1
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8
TRAVEL
NURSE FINDS HOME
When Travel Nurse Ashley Bowes came to work at AdventHealth, she realized she didn’t want to go anywhere else.
CANCER CARE YOU CAN COUNT ON Finding Your Way to Hope & Healing with Help from Your Team
A MOTHER'S MIRACLE
A mother is making new memories with her family after The Baby Place discovered the life-threatening cause of her unusual chest pain during the final weeks of her pregnancy. 12
Bonnie Gundlach tends to her flower garden knowing her cancer team is tending to her care.
Moving health care forward
. Bringing more choices for whole-person care to people across Western North Carolina
By Victoria Dunkle, AdventHealth
For more than 110 years, AdventHealth has been bringing wholeness to our patients, team members and communities of Western North Carolina.
We are continually Moving Health Care Forward through advanced technology, innovative treatments and growing our team of top physicians, nurses and medical staff. At the center of every move we make are the people we serve. In our conversations with people across the region, you have made it clear that you want it to be easier to get the best medical care possible when and where you want it.
We are excited to share the new choices for AdventHealth’s unique whole-person care taking shape across our region.
New Hospital in Buncombe County
AdventHealth is honored to have been selected – by the community and the State of North Carolina – to build a new hospital to serve the people of Buncombe, Graham, Madison and Yancey Counties. In March, we announced the purchase of more than 30 acres of land along US 25/70 in Weaverville where we will build the hospital. The state-of-the-art, community hospital will provide surgical care, labor and delivery, emergency care and inpatient care along with imaging, lab, rehabilitation services and more.
An appeal delayed construction of the hospital for more than 18 months. In May, an NC Administrative Judge upheld the state’s decision to award AdventHealth the Certificate of Need (CON) to build the new hospital.
Need for More Acute Care Beds
Before the new hospital construction even started, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced the same four counties need more hospital beds.
These beds represent another opportunity to enhance choice and competition in the region and bring new health care services for our neighbors in the service area.
In June, AdventHealth applied for the Certificate of Need to add those 26 additional beds to the hospital in North Buncombe County.
New Medical Office Building
Expanding Critical Care for Babies
A new Medical Office Building is taking shape on the main campus of our hospital in Henderson County. In early March, team members and leaders signed the final beam before it was installed. People living in Henderson and surrounding counties told us they wanted more options for outpatient surgery, physician care and other services like imaging and lab. AdventHealth is moving forward to meet those needs with this building that will open by the end of the year.
The Baby Place at AdventHealth is consistently the top choice for labor and delivery care for moms across the region. To make it easier for moms experiencing high-risk pregnancies to receive the award-winning mother and baby care they want from AdventHealth, we applied for a CON for five Neonatal Intensive Care Unit beds. Our team of physicians, midwives and specially trained nurses rank in the top decile in patient experience scores. The addition of the OB Hospitalist program and our exceptional pediatric hospitalists team have positioned The Baby Place to add the NICU, making it easier for moms in our community to access an advanced level of care for their babies closer to home.
Expanding Clinic Space in Seven Counties
The AdventHealth’s commitment to Moving Health Care Forward includes adding new medical offices for the communities we serve. Later this summer, we are opening our new multispecialty office in Robbinsville. This office will offer care for the primary and urgent health needs of people in Graham County. In 2025, AdventHealth will add more than 40,000 square feet of clinical space in Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood and Transylvania Counties.
To learn more about how AdventHealth is expanding care in Western North Carolina visit AdventHealthWNC.com or scan the QR Code.
Travel Nurse Finds Home with AdventHealth Hendersonville
By Emily Lynes, AdventHealth
When Ashley Bowes, BSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, decided to take a travel nursing assignment to work in the Emergency Department at AdventHealth Hendersonville, she was expecting it to be like other hospitals. But when she started the job, Ashley realized that AdventHealth does health care differently. Along with offering world-class health care, she realized they offers a work culture that was truly unique and welcoming.
Ashley Bowes, BSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, can't help but smile when she's working with her friends in the ED.
“As a travel nurse, sometimes places aren’t so friendly,” Ashley explains. “But at AdventHealth, I just really liked the people that I worked with, the nurses and doctors, it was just a very friendly, welcoming environment. It was just a breath of fresh air to be around such friendly welcoming people.”
Originally from Orlando, Ashley began travel nursing in 2020. When a travel position at AdventHealth Hendersonville opened up, she took the assignment because she was drawn to Western North Carolina and knew she might want to move to the mountains permanently. What started out as a normal travel nursing assignment, quickly grew into something much deeper.
“I really developed a friendship and sort of family-tie with all my co-workers,” Ashley shares. “My favorite thing is just being able to work with my friends. Everyone is concerned and interested in what’s going on outside of work as well. And I really liked the leadership, they have a good understanding of what’s going on in the department and at the bedside.”
Ashley eventually decided to take another assignment that sent her to Colorado. But AdventHealth wasn’t far from her mind, and she found herself wishing she could go back to working and caring for patients in an environment that supported and cared for her as well.
She eventually called up fellow travel nurse, Chandra Nicholson, RN, who she worked with at AdventHealth Hendersonville, and shared her feelings about taking
on a permanent position in the Emergency Department there. “I told Chandra, ‘Listen, I’m thinking of staying here full-time. You should stay here full-time with me. Where else are we gonna find a hospital like this? I don’t want to travel anywhere else.” Chandra agreed, and they both decided that AdventHealth Hendersonville was the place they wanted to call home.
In April 2023, Ashley took a full-time, permanent nursing position the AdventHealth Emergency Department. She is extremely grateful to be part of a team of health care providers that support her and have her back through tough shifts and fast-paced emergency patient care. Working such a close-knit team at AdventHealth, Ashley finds it easy to focus on her personal commitment to treating each patient with respect and care as if they were her own family.
A year later, she still believes that AdventHealth was the right career decision for her. “I think AdventHealth aligns with what I believe in,” she shares. “I believe that we can grow and be better for our community. I really hope that AdventHealth can expand in Western North Carolina, and I just want to be part of that process.” Shanna shares, “especially having experienced [the culture], not only for my team, but for myself as an individual and how important it is, and to know the benefits that I received from it. | I’ll hopefully be able to instill that in somebody else, or several other people.”
1,142+
4,469
Caring for The Human Spirit:
New
providers expand choices for whole-person care to help the human spirit thrive
At AdventHealth, we believe in the power of the human spirit. The human spirit lives in us, but it also moves between us. We can’t see it or hold it. But we can realize and celebrate it in others and ourselves.
CARDIOLOGY
Eduardo Balcells, MD
Interventional Cardiologist
AdventHealth Medical Group
Cardiology at Medical Office Building*
WOMEN’S HEALTH
Collette Salm-Schmid, MD, FACS
Breast Surgeon
AdventHealth Medical Group Breast Center Asheville & Hendersonville*
CANCER SERVICES
Lynnea Skiman, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, OCN
AdventHealth Cancer Services Asheville*
CHILD & ADOLESCENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Sarah Kosten, PsyD
AdventHealth Medical Group Psychiatry at Medical Office Building*
Carissa Frank, LCSWA
AdventHealth Medical Group Psychiatry at Medical Office Building*
PRIMARY CARE
Laini Arnold, PA-C
AdventHealth Medical Group
Pediatrics at Medical Office Building*
Kristen Roach, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC
AdventHealth Medical Group
Pediatrics at Medical Office Building*
Megan Plotkin, MSN, RN, FNP
AdventHealth Medical Group
Family Medicine at Biltmore Park*
Emma Wagner, PA-C
AdventHealth Medical Group
Family Medicine at Black Mountain*
PODIATRY
Elizabeth Davis, DPM
AdventHealth Medical Group
Multispecialty at Medical Office Building*
Getting Radical to Beat Cancer:
The remarkable outcome for a patient who said yes to adding a robot to his surgery team.
By Emily Lynes, AdventHealth
AdventHealth Hendersonville is raising the bar in surgical care with the innovative technology of the robotics-assisted da Vinci® surgery system. This cutting-edge technology allows surgeons to perform complex surgeries using minimally invasive techniques. The da Vinci® surgery system is a masterpiece of technology that greatly enhances patient outcomes and gives patients the confidence and comfort of knowing they are receiving expert, next-level surgical care.
When George Gabler was diagnosed with prostate cancer in August 2023, he discovered that robotic-assisted surgery was the best option for his care. George was referred to AdventHealth Hendersonville Urologist Nina Harkhani, MD, who specializes in robotic surgery. Together, George and Dr. Harkhani decided the best option to manage his prostate cancer was a robotic radical prostatectomy.
“I went to talk with her and she was just wonderful,” George remembers. “She explained all of the details of my diagnosis and what [the outcome of] of this treatment versus that treatment would be in the short, medium, and long-term. And how each of those would affect my life. So we decided right then and there I was going to get radical prostate removal.”
“A robotic radical prostatectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a robot system that is operated by the surgeon to remove the prostate and the surrounding organs,” Dr. Harkhani explains. “It’s used as a treatment for prostate cancer. We want to remove the cancer before it has a chance to spread to other sites in the body.”
The da Vinci® robotics system offers many benefits to both the surgeon and the patient. The system allows surgeons to operate a set of robotic arms, and provides high-definition views of the surgical area. According to Dr. Harkhani, the robotic approach offers several advantages over traditional open surgery, including smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, faster recovery times, and improved precision.
Robotics-assisted surgery is an option for many different surgical procedures. The robotics system can be used to do most laparoscopic surgeries, including gallbladder removal,
hernia repair, prostate removal, and gynecologic surgery as well. It’s a convenient option for patients who are looking to get back on their feet sooner, with less postoperative complications and pain.
Using the da Vinci® robotic system, Dr. Harkhani was able to successfully remove George’s prostate and surrounding tissue. George remembers waking up from surgery and finding Dr. Harkhani’s signature smiley face on his hand. George says it told him all he needed to know about how the surgery that was a success. George was home the very next day, and was able to return to his baseline activity within four weeks.
“I don’t think I ever felt I was in the hands of a more professional person than Dr. Harkhani,” George shares. “She had genuine concern for my care and the outcome, and helped understand my choices. I went back three months after the operation, and the cancer is undetectable. I can’t imagine getting better treatment, or having a better outcome than I did with AdventHealth Hendersonville. My experience was amazing.”
To learn more about urology services or schedule an appointment with Dr. Harkahni call 828-680-8345 or scan the QR code.
George Gabler enjoys a beautiful spring bike ride.
FINDING YOUR WAY TO
HOPE HEALING
Patients at AdventHealth Cancer Services have personal Nurse Navigators to help them through every step of their cancer journey.
By Emily Lynes, AdventHealth
Life is full of surprises. When that surprise is an unexpected cancer diagnosis, AdventHealth is ready with cancer care you can count on at four centers across Western North Carolina. Our region is seeing a growth in cancer diagnoses with WNC on track to have a 20% increase in new cases by the end of this year compared to totals just three years ago. This is higher than the roughly 18% increase the NCDHHS is projecting for the entire state.
To meet the need for whole-person cancer care close to where patients live, AdventHealth Cancer Services offers leading edge treatments and programs that empower patients throughout their cancer journeys. These programs have earned AdventHealth Cancer Services national recognition through certifications and accreditations that require the highest safety and quality standards of care. Leading the way for patients is the Oncology Nurse Navigator Program. This team of AdventHealth nurses are Oncology Nurse Certified (OCN) and Certified Breast Care Nurses (CBCN) who work directly with every patient giving them a personal navigator to help them through their cancer journey. They provide a range of resources to patients, including patient advocacy, coordination of care and guidance on financial assistance.
PATIENT ADVOCACY
When Rebecca Wilburn first met her nurse navigator, Domenica “Minnie” Cohen, BSN, RN, CBCN, she felt a sense of relief to have someone there to help guide her. “One of the first things that Minnie said to me was ‘I’m going to be your advocate.’” Rebecca remembers. “I nearly cried when she said that word to me. That was a wonderful thing to think about that she was going to be my advocate.”
“The role of a navigator is to provide comfort, compassion, education, guidance and navigation through their whole cancer journey,” explains Lisa Gundersen, MSN, RN, OCN, Director of AdventHealth Cancer Services.
For Oncology Nurse Navigators, patients are their first priority. The nurse navigators are there to assist their patients in their new cancer diagnosis. They help each patient understand what is going on with their care and answer any questions that may arise during the course of treatment.
“I say we practice uncommon compassion,” Minnie says. “The Navigators have their patients’ best interest in mind. The patient feels supported, they feel guided and cared about. There’s a little less stress that they have to deal with. They have somebody advocating for them.”
For Rebecca, who recently started chemotherapy treatment for her breast cancer, having someone to lean on was life changing. The 79-year-old relies on her nurse navigator to explain what’s going on with her care and help keep track of her appointments. “I’m sorry I have to go through it,” she shares, “But I’m glad I’ve got somebody to help me know how to go through it. She has told me what I need to know to navigate my way through this crisis in my life. Right now, I’m depending on Minnie. She’s my nurse navigator.”
Domenica Cohen, BSN, RN, CBCN AdventHealth Breast Health Nurse Navigator
COORDINATION OF CARE
Along with being an advocate for the patient, Oncology Nurse Navigators also help coordinate appointments and care across the multidisciplinary team providing cancer care for their wholeperson – body, mind, and spirit. These nurse navigators make sure each patient is connected to the support and resources they need. Resources such as counseling services, dietary consults and support groups.
“Every cancer is different, and every cancer situation is different,” explains James Wilson. “You don’t know what’s going to happen, and it can be pretty worrisome.” The 75-year-old has been battling colon cancer since October of last year. When he started his cancer treatment at AdventHealth Cancer Services at Asheville James and his wife were pleasantly surprised to be assigned an oncology nurse navigator to help support him through his cancer journey.
“This cancer of mine, it came out of the blue as far as I was concerned,” James says. “I had an awful lot to learn and
absorb. For you to be able to talk to someone who has knowledge and experience that you can count on, any patient in this situation needs that.”
James has been treating his cancer through an oral chemotherapy regimen. His Oral Oncolytic Nurse Navigator, Meredith Barten, BSN, RN, OCN, CRNI, has been pivotal to his ongoing treatment. She checks in with James, making sure he understands the treatment and is following the schedule for taking his medication.. Meredith also uses these check-ins to see how James is doing with the therapy and that he is not running into any barriers to receiving his care.
“Whether a patient is receiving treatment in the clinic setting or at home, all patients need to feel supported throughout their treatment,” Meredith shares. “The Nurse Navigators are a liaison to the patient, provider and other members of the interdisciplinary care team. We form a very close, trusted relationship with the patients we serve.”
Meredith Barten, BSN, RN, OCN, CRNI, explains oral chemotherapy program to cancer patient.
James Wilson enjoys hobbies while fighting colon cancer with help of his Oncology Nurse Navigator, Meredith Barten, BSN, RN, OCN, CRNI.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
For Bonnie Gundlach, the weight of financial stress from her cancer treatment looms every year. Bonnie is managing her multiple myeloma through ongoing oral chemotherapy, and she works closely with her nurse navigator, Meredith Barten, BSN, RN, OCN, CRNI, to find financial assistance.
“Meredith mostly has navigated me through funding,” Bonnie says. “And that’s one level of stress that you don’t want. But she takes that particular piece of stress away. It’s just an amazing feeling knowing she’s there and she’s on my side. She’s out there working for me. And I am so appreciative of that.”
“It is important for patients to have an advocate during their cancer journey so they can focus on their treatment and recovery,” Meredith says. “It is important to have someone you can call with any questions or concerns you have and know that whatever the concern is, your Nurse Navigator will assist you along the way.”
Wherever patients are on their cancer journey, AdventHealth nurse navigators are walking right alongside them. From diagnosis to treatment, Oncology Nurse Navigators are there to provide individual and personal care the patients can count on.
AdventHealth Hendersonville is excited to be expanding access to even more personalized cancer care through the addition of a Lung Cancer Nurse Navigator. This Oncology Nurse Navigator will work closely with the pulmonologist to address patient’s needs, even before a cancer diagnosis is determined. Wherever patients are on their cancer journey, AdventHealth Hendersonville provides navigation for every step along the way.
It’s just an amazing feeling knowing she’s there and she’s on my side. She’s out there working for me. And I am so appreciative of that.”
Cancer care you can count on.
AdventHealth Cancer Services is nationally recognized for providing the highest-level of cancer care at all four of its cancer centers.
• NAPBC | National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
• CoC Accreditation for Comprehensive Cancer Center designation | American College of Surgeons
• Comprehensive Breast Imaging Center | American College of Radiology
• ASCO QOPI Certification Program | Quality Cancer Care: Recognizing Excellence
Bonnie Gundlach tends to her flower garden.
The Calling of a Culture
SUPPORT GROUPS
Offer Added Healing
AdventHealth Cancer Services promises comprehensive whole-person care. Along with certified oncology nurses serving as navigators for each patient, you will have access to the added healing care of support groups. AdventHealth Cancer Services Support Groups offer a space for patients and their loved ones to share experiences, receive guidance from facilitators, and learn from others who are facing similar health journeys.
ADVANCED CANCER SUPPORT GROUP
Explore ways to cope with the challenges of living with metastatic and/or advanced cancer while continuing to find meaning and hope.
LIVING WELL AND BREAST CANCER SISTERHOOD
Breast cancer patients and survivors at any stage, including post-treatment, receive education and peer support from others who share this cancer experience.
MULTIPLE MYELOMA SUPPORT GROUP
Patients and their adult loved ones/caregivers learn how to cope with a multiple myeloma diagnosis. Group is open to anyone impacted by multiple myeloma, regardless of where they are receiving care.
What made former the Henderson County Public Schools Superintendent decide to come out of retirement to join AdventHealth?
Most people look forward to retirement and won’t even think of returning to the routine of a full-time career. But Henderson County native, Bo Caldwell, MA, EdS, is not most people.
Caldwell had a fulfilling career as the Superintendent of Henderson County Public Schools and was enjoying his well-deserved retirement. However, something pulled him out of retirement and back into the workforce. That something was the culture at AdventHealth Hendersonville.
Caldwell, who has a longstanding dedication to serving the local community, recently became the new Foundation Director at AdventHealth Hendersonville. He is excited to support the team at AdventHealth and connect people with whole-person care.
Caldwell’s decision to join the AdventHealth team was inspired by his personal experience with the hospital. When he had shoulder replacement surgery at AdventHealth, he was impressed with the dedicated and compassionate professionals working together to serve the people in their care. “As soon as I walked into the hospital, I felt a sense of warmth and kindness,” Caldwell remembers. “My hospital experience from the beginning to the end was of top quality with excellent service and care.”
As the Foundation Director, Caldwell is excited to be able to help more people experience that same comprehensive care from an exceptional team focused on helping every person feel whole. He invites our community to join him in this work to expand the choices for state-of-the-art health care to improve the health and well-being of family and friends across Western North Carolina.
AdventHealth Foundation Golf Classic
October 15 | The Cliffs at Walnut Cove To
To register a team or learn about sponsorship opportunities, scan the code or call 828-606-3714. SAVE THE DATE
You’re invited to join us to enjoy a day golf and help expand access to comprehensive cancer care with leading treatment therapies for patients across Western North Carolina.
and motherhood
Meet the mother making new memories with her family after The Baby Place discovered the life-threatening cause of her unusual chest pain during the final weeks of her pregnancy.
By Emily Lynes, AdventHealth
Candace Duke was 33 weeks pregnant when she started feeling excruciating chest pain. The mother of five had never felt pain this intense before, and suspected that something was not right.
Candace immediately called her OB provider at AdventHealth Medical Group Obstetrics and Gynecology at Medical Office Building* to report her pain. They told her she should get medical attention right away.
“I was hurting so bad,” Candace remembers. “I have all these kids, and that was the worst pain I have felt in my entire life, the chest pain I was having. I couldn’t sit still; I was just writhing in pain.”
Candace, who lives in Black Mountain, went to the closest Emergency Department to get help. But she was soon discharged with a diagnosis of probable heartburn. Candace knew right then that she had to go to AdventHealth Hendersonville. “I just looked at my husband, and I was like, ‘We need to go to AdventHealth,’” she recalls.
When Candace and her husband arrived at AdventHealth, they were immediately seen in the Emergency Department.
The doctors and nurses got right to work triaging Candace, and started ordering tests to figure out what was causing the pain and discomfort that she was experiencing. Concerned that she might be in labor, the care team moved Candace to the labor and delivery unit, The Baby Place at AdventHealth Hendersonville.
“She was complaining of horrible abdominal and back pain,” remembers Anita Leis, MD, AdventHealth Hendersonville OB Hospitalist. “Because her pain was so significant, we kept her just to continue monitoring her and the baby. She’s a tough lady, a great patient and she was sincere in her pain. I just felt like it was my job to try to figure out what was going on.”
Test after test came back normal, and Candace was still experiencing intense pain in her chest. That’s when Dr. Leis started to suspect that Candace might be suffering from an aortic dissection. An aortic dissection is an incredibly rare condition where a tear occurs in the inner layer of the aorta. This causes blood to rush through the tear and forms a split (dissection) of the inner and middle layers. When this happens adequate blood and oxygen cannot get to the organs. This is a life-threatening, and usually fatal condition for pregnant mothers.
Candace Duke and her family enjoy nature together.
Dr. Leis ordered a CT scan for Candace to investigate further. Shortly after the scan, Dr. Leis received an emergency phone call from the radiologist confirming her suspicion. The entire path of Candace’s descending aorta was tearing apart. Her life and the life of her baby were in jeopardy.
The entire team at The Baby Place jumped into action. OB Nurse, Gillian Vargas, RN, C-EFM, remembers how well the team pulled together to take care of Candace, her husband, and the baby. “I’m thankful I have a great team,”
I’m just so thankful and appreciative to everyone at AdventHealth because I know I would not be here if it weren’t for them diagnosing me,” ”
Gillian says. “We work really well together. We made sure everything was taken care of really quickly. Because in the OB, things happen really quickly. We have to be able to work fast to make sure everyone’s lives are taken care of - moms and babies.”
When the care team explained the situation to Candace and her husband, they clung to each other. “I really just thought I was going to die, and that I wasn’t going to get to see this baby,” Candace shares. “I was very much just lying there preparing to die.”
Within six minutes, the team from AdventHealth Hendersonville had a Life Flight Helicopter picking up Candace to transport her to a nearby trauma center.
Her nurse, Gillian, held her hand and explained what was going on when things were happening around them. “When she got the diagnosis, I just stayed in the room with her,” Gillian says. “I held her hand and I made sure she was never alone.”
Candace was flown to a nearby trauma hospital where there was a team waiting to take her to an emergency c-section. Her new baby boy, Dylan, was born healthy and safe. Candace was admitted to the ICU and started blood pressure treatment to manage the aortic dissection. A few weeks later, she was stable enough to have an aortic dissection repair and a stent placed.
“I’m just so thankful and appreciative to everyone at AdventHealth because I know I would not be here if it weren’t for them diagnosing me,” Candace shares. “We’re very blessed to have each and every day. And so, so thankful to be watching him [baby Dylan] grow and everyone else grow, and to actually be here for it. Because I know I was very close to not being here.”
For Candace and her baby boy, and every mom and baby, The Baby Place has an OB Hospitalist like Dr. Leis on-site 24/7 to guarantee exceptional, quality care for any emergency situation that might arise during labor, delivery or at any point during their stay. The OB hospitalists are board-certified, and highly skilled in providing emergency obstetrical care.
“I think having an OB/GYN hospitalist completely changes care for moms and their babies,” Dr. Leis explains. “Because we’re here 24/7 for anything that’s emergent. We’re here, we can take care of them. We’re here overnight if babies need us. It really changes the safety of labor and delivery for moms and babies profoundly.”
Today Candace is making memories with her new baby boy and his five siblings thanks to the uncommon compassion she received at AdventHealth. Dr. Leis and Gillian listened and determined they would not stop until they figured out exactly what was going on to ensure the safety of Candace and her baby. “I would absolutely recommend AdventHealth and The Baby Place because they care about you, and they will do everything they can to make sure that you and your baby are taken care of. You can trust them.”
*A hospital department of AdventHealth Hendersonville To learn more about The Baby Place visit
Light the Night 828
AdventHealth’s FaithConnect takes mental health care beyond our doors to teens in our community .
As a faith-based, not-for-profit health system, AdventHealth has the privilege of taking its commitment to meet the mental health and wellness needs of young people beyond the doors of our hospital and clinics.
AdventHealth’s FaithConnect partners with the faith community to extend health, healing and hope. In March, FaithConnect sponsored Light the Night 828, a faith movement to end teen suicide and support mental health.
“Last year we started praying about this project and what this next year would look like and what the community needed,” explained Jocelyn Shaw, MDiv, BCC, Director of Mission and Ministry and FaithConnect Co-Lead for AdventHealth Hendersonville.
“It didn’t take very long before we realized we needed to focus our efforts on young people in our community.”
In many instances churches are the first place teenagers or families turn to when they are experiencing depression, anxiety or other mental disorders. The churches that are part of FaithConnect said they were seeing a steady increase in these cries for help.
More than 1,100 teens and parents
FaithConnect Co-Lead, Donna Gibbs, LCMHCS, BCPCC heard about the beautiful story of Emma Benoit. Benoit became
extremely passionate about suicide prevention after surviving a suicide attempt the summer before her senior year of high school. Gibbs shares, “At the time, she was a popular varsity cheerleader with a supportive family and lots of friends. But on the inside, she was filled with depression, anxiety, and had never told a soul about it.” Benoit’s suicide attempt resulted in a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed. It also helped her find faith and purpose and propelled her on a mission to use her painful experience and miraculous recovery to help others.
Light the Night 828 showed more than 1,000 students the power of bringing mental health concerns into the light and talking about them. Shaw puts it this way, “We’re tearing the doors off and saying, this is more than important to discuss. It’s OK to discuss it.
It’s OK to share. When you’re struggling. We want to hear your voice.”
At least 25 students found their voices at Light the Night 828 and reached out to AdventHealth Behavioral Health team members or specially trained volunteers for a connection to mental health care.
Emma Benoit
attended Light the Night 828 to support young people in our community.
Close to Home Care
New Mental Health Unit is Helping Teen Girls Find Hope and Healing
All across the United States mental health needs are on the rise, especially among teen girls. A recent CDC report found that among their peers, teenage girls are experiencing an increasing amount of violence, trauma, and feelings of hopelessness. For teens in North Carolina, the reports mirror what we are seeing across the country.
These findings indicate a need for urgent intervention for adolescent teens, specifically for young women. To meet this increase in mental health needs around our community, AdventHealth Hendersonville has opened a new adolescent behavioral health program.
“We care deeply for our community,” explains Kristy Ellison, MSN, RN, Director of Behavioral Health for AdventHealth Hendersonville. “When the need came to light, we knew opening this unit was imperative! To offer hope, healing and extending Christ’s healing ministry is our calling.”
Ellison leads the specialized behavioral health care team supporting emotional healing for adolescent women ages 13 to 18. In March, AdventHealth opened the 10-bed adolescent behavioral health unit for girls suffering from depression, anxiety, PTSD and other health disorders. Along with behavioral health nurses, AdventHealth psychiatrists, psychologists and nurse practitioners have created an environment that fosters whole-person care for these girls.
The adolescent behavioral health program includes individual and group therapy, psychotherapy, dance and movement therapy, music and art therapy, along with other therapy options. therapy options. AdventHealth’s collaborative program also helps patients transition from inpatient care. Each patient’s care team will work with them to make sure they have the support and care they need to continue to heal through hope. This may include referrals to care such as a partial inpatient program or outpatient behavioral health services.
“One of the things that we’re hoping to focus on is hooking up the right people with the right recourses,” explains AdventHealth Hendersonville psychiatric mental health nurse
practitioner Elizabeth Nestler, PMHNP. “We have a fantastic team here to support in terms of placement, education support, changes into their individualized learning plans, things like that can really help a patient not return.”
From the first days of this unit’s operation, our team has received positive feedback from parents, caregivers and health care professionals who recognize the need for specialized care for adolescent young women. “They [parents] have told us that their families are now able to receive close to home care for their children,” shared Ellison, “This reduces family stress, allowing for them to focus on the healing journey.”
To learn more about our Behavioral Health services call 828-492-3465 or scan the QR Code.
CONNECT WITH US!
Do you have a question about Experience Magazine? Is there something you’d like to see in future issues? To share your thoughts, contact victoria.dunkle@adventhealth.com.
Experience Magazine Editor: Victoria Dunkle Writer: Emily Lynes
Photography: Hal Alexander Design: Melissa
Where do you experience the power of the human spirit? In a helping hand? In the heart of a team? Or in the calling that inspires you to care for others? At AdventHealth, we see the drive and tenacity of the human spirit every day in our 95,000+ dedicated team members. That’s why we’re ready to care for you with top-tier benefits including:
Paid Time Off from Day One Learn more about becoming part of our team at
