By Cherry Odom, BSN, RN-BC Each summer, as more people visit the beautiful waterfalls of western North Carolina, there is an increase in related injuries treated in the emergency department. Waterfall Safety Tips “Perhaps people will heed warnings and follow safety guidelines, which may result in their enjoying the outdoors without suffering injuries,” said Dr. […]
By Robert A. Poarch “Gratitude is enormously important. It helps us pause and think about what we have, rather than what we don’t have.” — Jerene Broadway Jerene Broadway, a Staff Chaplain in Mission Health’s Department of Spiritual Care, has been at the hospital for almost 18 years, starting at the behavioral health facility Copestone. […]
By Robert A. Poarch “The message has to be out there. Don’t be afraid. Listen to your symptoms. Call 911,” warned Angela Solesbee, RN, CCCC, Code STEMI Coordinator with Mission Heart Services at Mission Health. Solesbee has been with Mission Health’s Code STEMI team for twenty years, and she said, “In my career here, this […]
By Carolyn Comeau Multiple news outlets have reported recently that hospital emergency departments across the country are experiencing noticeable drops in patients coming in who suspect they may be having a stroke, due to trying to heed widespread messaging about COVID-19. “This past month we’ve also seen an increase in stroke patients waiting too long […]
By Carolyn Comeau Social distancing, as this community grapples with COVID-19, means that homes have morphed into offices, classrooms and gyms. Healthcare delivery has had to follow suit — even within the typically “hands-on” realm of orthopedic services. “We often see an uptick in orthopedic injuries like fractures as the weather becomes milder,” said Michael […]
Spread cheer this holiday season – not germs! We hope you have a happy and healthy holiday – but if you find yourself in need of medical care this Christmas, New Year or any day in between, don’t think twice! With Mission Health, you can get care online or in-person – even during the holidays. […]
“Surreal. Unimaginable,” said Scott Vuncannon, attempting to describe the ordeal he went through last summer. A former Boy Scout, 58-year-old Scott was more than prepared when he and his dog, Boone, set out on the Ellicott Rock Trail in the Nantahala National Forest on a sunny day last August. But even the most experienced hiker […]
By Sam LaRose People usually associate concussions or head injuries with sports, like soccer, football or basketball, but concussions can happen during recreational activities for fun too. It’s that time of year here in the mountains for western North Carolinians’ favorite outdoor activities – hiking, canoeing or rafting down the river, biking and more. Whether […]
By Charles Letizia, Public Health Epidemiologist Measles is increasing at an alarming rate across the country. Although western North Carolina hasn’t had any confirmed cases, we remain vulnerable due to below-average immunization rates in the area. Current hot spots are New York, Washington and Michigan. There have been five confirmed cases in eastern Tennessee, which […]
By Gabriel Cade, MD The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) has designated April as Alcohol Awareness Month. Alcohol is, of course, one of the most visible and accessible drugs in our society. Despite a growing understanding of the health risks and dangers of alcohol abuse, more Americans than ever before consume alcohol on […]
