Providence Hospitals

Hand Hygiene Saves Lives

Lauren Chess — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:16:06 +0000

Washing our hands is something our mothers always told us to do when we wake up, before eating, after using the restroom and before we go to bed. It is something most of us probably do at those moments throughout the day. For clinicians, though, they are taught to “Wash in, wash out,” meaning hand sanitize before entering a patient room and before leaving. Nursing and physician demands in a fast-paced medical work environment can make this somewhat difficult, to say the least. So how important is it?

According to CDC, the single most important thing we can do to keep from getting sick and spreading illness to others is to clean our hands.

People come to hospitals to get better and at Providence Hospitals, our team drew attention to this important issue by having a little fun. Check out the flash mob video some of our nursing staff participated in at the downtown cafeteria to shine a spotlight on the importance of handwashing. Click on the image below or visit our YouTube page here.

If you knew washing your hands would save a life, would you do it? It’s that simple and at Providence, our team is stepping up to stomp out infections.

The Meaning of Thanksgiving

Lauren Chess — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:46:16 +0000

This Thanksgiving prayer is posted here at Providence Hospitals for our employees, visitors and patients. It is one that guides us all to reflect on the many blessings we have in our lives.

Thanksgiving is…

Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude to God,
our Creator and Provider,
whose guidance and care go before us
and whose love is with us forever.

Thanksgiving is a time
to reflect on the changes
to remember that we, too, grow and change
from one season of life to another.

Thanksgiving is a time of changing seasons,
when leaves turn golden in Autumn’s wake
and apples are crisp
in the first chill breezes of fall.

Let us remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving.
As we see the beauty of Autumn, let us acknowledge the many blessings which are ours,
let us think of our families and friends,
and let us give thanks in our hearts.

~ Author Unknown

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones!

Potentially Lifesaving Screenings Available

Lauren Chess — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:09:50 +0000

Have you heard the tragic stories about high school football players collapsing on the field? As recently as this past August, this has effected young people and families in South Carolina. (Darlington tragedy: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/highschool/news/story?id=6823526)

The good news is, the genetic condition that often causes these types of events can be detected in advance and if it is caught in time, lives can be saved. The condition is called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy or HCM. HCM is a disease in which the muscle of the heart becomes abnormally thickened. This makes it harder for the heart to pump blood and can affect the heart’s electrical system. Nationally, HCM affects roughly 1 in 500 people and is the most common cause of sudden death among athletes, responsible for 36% of deaths in young athletes.

The screening involves an Echocardiogram, a non-invasive test that lasts only 10 minutes. An ultrasound of the heart produces images, which show the structure and movement of the heart, and blood flow through it with each beat – allowing any abnormalities to be identified.

Providence Heart & Vascular Institute’s School of Cardiovascular Diagnostics will provide screenings in Richland and Lexington counties. This screening does not require insurance or a physician’s order and costs just $50 per person. Results will be mailed after the screening. The locations and times are below.

Tuesday, September 27 and Tuesday, October 4
5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Providence Hospital Downtown
2435 Forest Dr. - Columbia, SC

Thursday, September 29 and Thursday, October 6
5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Carolina Cardiovascular Associates
108 Palmetto Park Boulevard, Suite A – Lexington, SC

All participants must register in advance. To register, call Providence Health Connect 1-877-256-5381.

Go to our Facebook Page to see, Daniel Chambers, III, RDCS, RVT, Director, School of Cardiovascular Diagnostics and his student, Katie Speir, a senior student in the program, performed a screening live with WLTX on Friends at Five.

Top 10 Nationally. Again.

Lauren Chess — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 20:20:52 +0000

If you needed heart care, wouldn’t you want to know that you were receiving the best care possible? Well, one factor to consider when you make your decision is national ranking and for the 9th consecutive time, Providence Heart & Vascular Institute has been recognized in the top 10% nationally by the Society of Thorasic Surgeons (STS). Click the link below to hear from Dr. Mac Leppard, one of Columbia’s leading cardiothoracic surgeons, as he explains the data that goes into this ranking on Good Day Columbia at WACH-Fox on June 29.

http://video.wach.com/global/video/flash/flashvideoplayer.asp?playerName=miniplayer.swf&playerWidth=325&menuPosition=
none&clipId=6006846&autoStart=false&mute=false

Protect Yourself from the Flu

Lauren Chess — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:01:42 +0000

Worried the flu might take a toll on your health this year? Reporter Nate Stewart with WLTX interviews Dr. Angela Pierce, Providence Northeast Family Care, about ways to protect yourself.

Dr. Pierce is accepting new patients. Call Providence Northeast Family Care, located at 114 Gateway Corporate Blvd., Suite 230, at (803) 788-2277 to schedule an appointment.

10 Steps to 10 Pounds

Lauren Chess — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:39:41 +0000

Have you resolved to lose weight in the New Year? WIS-TV’s Hannah Horne follows Providence Hospitals’ Registered Dietitian Kay MacInnis through a guided grocery store tour. Learn how to shop smart and trim your waistline!

Providence Hospitals is offering a 10 Steps to 10 Pounds class in February that can help you learn how to alter your diet and incorporate exercise. Call Providence Health Connect toll-free, 24 hours a day for more informatioin or to register at 877-256-5381.

New Year…New You!

Lauren Chess — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:05:36 +0000

Vowing to shed some extra pounds through diet and exercise this New Year? You’re not alone. Losing weight is often cited as the number one New Year’s resolution for most Americans – right next to quitting smoking and paying off debt.

WLTX’s Lauren Talrico interviews Dr. Charis Taylor, a Providence physician with Associates in Internal Medicine, about the right way to make positive lifestyle changes…

Dr. Taylor is accepting new patients. Call Associates in Internal Medicine at 2701 Middleburg Drive at (803) 254-2786 to schedule an appointment.

Healthy Eating During the Holidays

Lauren Chess — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 14:37:02 +0000

Eating a well-balanced diet rich in nutritious foods can have a huge impact on your wellbeing. Click on the video below to watch Providence Hospitals Registered Dietitian Kay MacInnis discuss ways to curb your calorie intake during the holidays and beyond!

Joint Community Health Needs Assessment

Lauren Chess — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 14:26:39 +0000

Check out the video below to watch Providence Hospitals President & CEO George Zara and Palmetto Health CEO Charles Beaman discuss the joint community health needs assessment with WIS-TV’s Ben Hoover.

Can Obesity Be Contagious?

Lauren Chess — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:41:48 +0000

WACH Fox Reporter Arielle Riposta interviews Providence Hospitals Registered Dietitian Kay MacInnis about a recent Harvard study published by the New England Journal of Medicine that claims obesity is “socially contagious.” Check out the video below.