Health
Smoky Mountain News
Gillespie receives DAISY Award Haywood Regional Medical Center recently presented The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses for November and December to Megan Gillespie, RN Care Coordinator, and Shelly Sneed, staff RN. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day. Gillespie’s nominator shared an example of her compassion for a patient who was actively dying and work with their family. “She was unafraid to be honest, yet compassionate in communicating and advocating what was in the patient’s best interest” and offering comfort to the family during an especially difficult time. Sneed’s nominator shared that she’s hardworking with a wonderful bedside manner, even coming to check on her when she wasn’t assigned as her nurse. “We have a great team here at Haywood, and Megan and Shelly are wonderful examples,” shared Susan Mahoney, HRMC Chief Nursing Officer. “We look forward to another year of DAISY Awards in 2022.” More information is available at daisyfoundation.org.
Enroll in Diabetes Prevention Program The Diabetes Prevention Program is a lifestyle change program dedicated to preventing type 2 diabetes through a series of 24 one-hour group classes hosted by Haywood County Health and Human Services. Taught by a trained health educator/lifestyle coach, DPP is a fun, yearlong program that gives participants the information and tools needed to maintain a healthy weight, prepare and eat healthy meals and be more physically active. Thanks to a grant administered by NC State University, the classes are now free and will include incentives, such as resistance bands and cookbooks. Anyone interested in learning more about or participating in DPP can contact Megan Hauser at 828.356.2272. Providers can refer patients who are either at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes or have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes to join DPP. Classes are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7. The program will use a virtual format, with both telephone and video options available to participants.
Free community grief support available Haywood Hospice & Palliative Care is sponsoring a Community Grief Gathering at the Canton Library on the second Wednesday of the month
beginning at 1 p.m. in the meeting room. Each month will feature a different grief topic: Feb. 9 — Handling the Difficult Emotions of Grief; March 9 — Caring for the Whole Self; April 13— Preparing for Special Occasions. The Haywood County Public Library and Haywood Hospice require that masks be worn inside the building. For more information or to RSVP, contact Dan Pyles at 828.452.5039 or email daniel.pyles@lhcgroup.com.
Mental health series at Marianna The Marianna Black Library in Bryson City, in partnership with the VAYA Health, will be hosting an educational series on adult mental health, every third Thursday of the month throughout the year. This is a free course on substance abuse, misuse and the opioid crisis. All Geriatric and Adult Mental Health Specialty Team courses are evidence-informed, meaning they are derived from evidence-based research and incorporated into a user-friendly format focused on promoting adaptive outcomes.
Harris to host open house in Franklin Harris Regional Hospital Medical Park of Franklin has completed an expansion at 144 Holly Springs Park Drive that includes new space for Harris Surgical Associates and the Harris Pain
Center. The expanded space is conveniently located adjacent to the longstanding facility at 55 Holly Springs Park Drive, which includes Harris Family Care — Franklin, Harris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Harris Women’s Care, Harris Pediatric Care, and outpatient lab, radiology, and physical rehabilitation services. “We’re excited to expand access to care in Macon County as part of our mission of Making Communities Healthier,” said LaCrystal Gordon, CNO and Interim CEO for Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital. “Our new space for general surgery and pain management in Franklin will complement our primary, subspecialty, and outpatient services that have been available to the community for decades.” To schedule an appointment with a provider, call 800.414.DOCS.
HRMC hires nurse midwife Haywood Regional Medical Center recently welcomed Ashley Pennington-Tripp, MSN, CNM to its staff. She will be offering family nurse midwife care to patients throughout Haywood County and beyond. Her specialties include general gynecological care, obstetrical care, postpartum care, childbirth, contraceptive counseling, pregnancy, menopause management, and more. Pennington-Tripp is a Certified Nurse Midwife who completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Western Carolina University. She went on to earn her Master of Science in Nursing – specializing in Nurse Midwifery – at Frontier Nursing University in Versailles, Kentucky. “I became a midwife because I believe every woman needs a midwife…The wellbeing of women impacts the well-being of families and communities, making the world a better place,” she said. “I look forward to building relationships with the women and families of WNC by providing excellent, compassionate, evidence based, empowering, inclusive and respectful care.” Appointments may be made by calling 828.452.5042.
Mission breaks ground on mental health facility The team at Mission Health broke ground this week on a new Behavioral Health facility in Asheville. The Sweeten Creek Mental Health and Wellness Center is slated to open in early 2023. Located just off Sweeten Creek Road in Asheville, this 120-bed center will offer advanced therapies, technologies and evidence-based best practices to improve the health and well-being of our community. Mission Health’s new $62 million facility will offer 84,000 square feet of space that will include a therapy gymnasium, music therapy, art therapy and more. The 26-acre property will also include outdoor recreation space and gardening. “We are furthering our investment in our
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Western North Carolina community by providing this much-needed facility and adding additional resources to care for the area we serve,” said Chad Patrick, CEO of Mission Hospital. Sweeten Creek Mental Health and Wellness Center will care for adult, geriatric, adolescent, and pediatric patients. This expansion adds 38 additional beds that will help meet the growing needs of our community and allow Mission Health to continue to care for patients in a state-of-theart facility that keeps our community members close to home.
HCC receives health science grant Haywood Community College recently received a grant from the Cannon Charitable Interests for $150,000 to purchase equipment for the college’s new Health Sciences Education Building. Featuring a new state-of-the-art learning environment, the cornerstone of the building will be a simulation lab equipped with manikins that provide life-like patient care experience to students. The Cannon funds will be used toward the purchase of manikins that cover the spectrum of life from birth to geriatric care, including male and female models. Slated to complete construction in the spring of 2022, the Health Sciences Education Building will expand, enhance and modernize the student experience while supplying critical healthcare professionals for the region. It will include an 85-seat lecture hall, 40-seat biology lab and 60-seat classroom. HCC plans for a grand opening of the facility in the summer of 2022. Haywood Healthcare Foundation joined with HCC and NC Connect Bond funds to make the new building a reality. For more information, call 828.627.4654.
HIGHTS receives mental health grant HIGHTS received an award from the Evergreen Foundation to fund crisis mental health services for youth in Western North Carolina. Grant funds also provide training and supervision, in partnership with Western Carolina University, for Restorative Justice Continuum providers across Western North Carolina. Training includes Substance Use Series with Dr. Beth Young, addressing substance use psychoeducation and prevention. An Adolescent Mental Health Training Series will be delivered by Dr. Nathan Roth. Dr. Jonathan Campbell will provide training on youth on the autism spectrum. Dr. Young and Dr. Roth will also provide supervision to assist therapists in obtaining their clinical licensure and licensed addiction specialist credential. HIGHTS (Helping Inspire Gifts of Hope, Trust, and Service) works with the communities’ most vulnerable youth to provide essential clinical mental health services, workforce development, skill building programs, meaningful community service opportunities, recreational therapy, and mentoring. To learn more about HIGHTS, visit hights.org.
