Everything Amelia

Everything Amelia

PEOPLE, PLACES, HISTORY & MORE

BY JULIE SIMMONS

BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER NASSAU RECEIVES PATIENT SAFETY AWARD

Amelia Island’s Baptist Medical Center Nassau received an “A” for patient safety, the highest grade possible, in the fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. Th e designation recognizes Baptist Nassau’s eff orts in protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. “Above all else, patient safety is our No. 1 priority,” says Michael A. Mayo, FACHE, hospital president of Baptist Jacksonville. “Our patients and their families rely on us to deliver safe, high-quality care and help them live their healthiest lives. We are honored to receive top marks for the eff orts of our exceptional team members.”

To ensure all patients remain protected throughout their healing process, several enhanced safety measures were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. From setting up COVID-19 positive isolation units to using improved sanitation and additional personal protective equipment, Baptist Health’s safety initiatives helped assure patients and their families that the health system was ready to provide safe, comprehensive care to the community, despite the pandemic. Th e Leapfrog Group aims to improve healthcare quality and safety for consumers and purchasers and assigns an A, B, C, D, or F score to hospitals based on their performance in preventing medical errors, infections, and other harms among patients in their care. OMNI AMELIA ISLAND RESORT NAMED ONE OF BEST U.S. HOTELS

If traveling has been removed from your 2021 agenda, you can’t fi nd calendar space to get too far away, or you just want a couple of relaxing days, remember that the Omni Amelia Island Resort is an amazing place to stay, right here in our own backyard! We locals know this secret, but what you might not know is that U.S. World News Report recently named the Omni Amelia Island one of the best hotels in the nation.

Whether it’s for one night or a long weekend, Omni Amelia Island Resort is a perfect getaway for Florida residents who are looking for a quick, safe, and desperately needed vacation. The property abounds with socially distanced activities like golf, tennis, nature tours, guided kayak adventures, stand-up paddle boarding and pedalboard tours, Segway excursions, and bicycle and Island Hopper rentals, just to name a few! From there, you can look forward to Amelia Island’s beautiful beaches and a multitiered pool deck with the option of private cabana rentals. For dining, guests have an abundance of both outdoor seating and grab and go options. And guests who stay two or more nights are eligible for a 15% discount. Visit omnihotels.com to book your stay!

KEEP NASSAU BEAUTIFUL DISTRIBUTES 500 TREES FOR ARBOR DAY

Florida Arbor Day is celebrated annually on the third Friday in January. In 2021, Keep Nassau Beautiful (KNB) celebrated the day with their second annual Adopt-A Tree project. During the inaugural event in 2020, KNB distributed over 340 trees to residents, and this year, they met a new milestone by sharing 500 trees with our community. To coordinate distribution, over 40 volunteers logged 180 hours of service in three drive-through events loading trees into vehicles. “Keep Nassau Beautiful is fortunate again this year to have the support of Rayonier, Rayonier Advanced Materials, Liberty Landscape Supply, Florida Department of Transportation, Nassau County Board of County Commissioners, Fernandina Beach City Commissioners, the Callahan Masonic Lodge, individual donors, and our many hearty volunteers,” says Kelley McCarter, KNB Board Member and Adopt-A-Tree Project Chair.

With ongoing support from the community for an annual Florida Arbor Day event, KNB plans to continue the Adopt-A-Tree project in 2022 to help off -set the loss of trees in Nassau County due to development, weather events, and age. If you would like to learn more, donate, or to register for notification of the next Adopt-A Tree event, visit www.keepnassaubeautiful.org or call (904) 261-0165.