Tag Archive for: #mariaparhamhealth

TownTalk: MPH Cancer Center’s Angel Fund Gets $19K Infusion From Fire Dept.

/by

City of Henderson firefighters know that the next call they get could involve saving someone’s life. It’s what they train for.

For the past seven or eight years, however, the firefighters at Central Station One on Dabney Drive have taken to the street – literally – to help fight a different battle, one that can be just as deadly as a house fire or car crash.

Firefighters take to the busy street in front of the station to conduct their “fill the boot” campaign and donated all the proceeds to the Angel Fund at Maria Parham Health’s Cancer Center. This year’s three-day effort netted a whopping $19,611, which Chief Tim Twisdale presented to cancer center staff on Monday afternoon. In remarks to the group following the check presentation, Cancer Center Director Kimberly Smith remembered former Chief Steve Cordell, who lost his battle with cancer in January 2023. “This was always something special to him,” Smith said of the Angel Fund project. “So we decided we were going to name it the Steve Cordell Angel Fund moving forward.”

City Manager Terrell Blackmon said this is the second year that Cordell has not been a part of the check presentation. “He was a big, strong proponent of this effort,” Blackmon said.

Chief Twisdale presented the check to hospital staff, and said he hopes the tradition will continue. “It warms our hearts to be able to do this every year,” Twisdale said. “We count you guys as a big part of that blessing…taking care of us and the community.”

Thanks also go to all those who donated over the course of the three days of the campaign, Battalion Chief Lee Edmonds said later. None of it would be possible without community support, he said.

Those tall boots got filled while firefighters held up traffic with their singing, dancing, just having a good time to support a good cause, Twisdale said.

The coins and bills that added up to the more than $19,000 donation helps cancer patients with transportation, medicine, food and more, said MPH Social Worker Hope Breedlove.

“Transportation is a huge barrier to care,” Breedlove said, adding that the Angel Fund has provided 1,072 rides since mid-January 2024. That averages out to about 5 rides per treatment day.

One gentleman had to come to the clinic twice a week for treatment, and it wasn’t that he didn’t have a car – he simply was too sick to drive himself.

“A lot of good people come into the clinic – this is great to help them bridge the gap,” she said.

Heather Endecott is an RN who works in the clinic side of the cancer center. She said the Angel Fund, in addition to the transportation support, has helped provide oral chemotherapy to some patients for years, indicating that the much-needed medications are helping people get effective treatment and live longer lives.

The Angel Fund has helped 78 families with gas, 66 families with food and countless others get medicine.

“Medication is a big area that we spend a lot of time helping (with), life sustaining medicines, medicines to control their symptoms, medicines to keep them out of the hospital, medicines to keep them from having to call 911 in the middle of the night,” Smith said.

CLICK PLAY!

Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham Health Earns Another ‘A’ For Hospital Safety From Leapfrog Group

/by

 

– information courtesy of Maria Parham Health Public Information Officer Donna Young

Maria Parham Health has been awarded an “A” Hospital Safety Grade by The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit organization committed to improving health care quality and safety. The recognition places Maria Parham Health among the top performing hospitals nationwide for patient safety.

Leapfrog assigns safety grades to hospitals based on more than 30 performance measures, including incidents of errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the hospital’s systems to prevent such events. The “A” grade reflects the hospital’s commitment to reducing preventable harm to patients and delivering high-quality care.

“We are extremely proud to earn an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “This recognition speaks to the incredible dedication and hard work of our physicians, nurses, staff, and volunteers who put patient safety at the forefront of everything they do. At Maria Parham Health, our patients are our priority, and this grade underscores our ongoing commitment to making communities healthier and providing the highest level of care in a safe environment.”

Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, congratulated Maria Parham Health for its dedication to patient safety. “Achieving an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade is a significant accomplishment for Maria Parham Health,” said Binder. “It reflects enormous dedication to your patients and their families, and your whole community should be proud. I extend my congratulations to Maria Parham Health, its leadership, clinicians, staff, and volunteers for their tireless efforts to put patients first.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only national rating program focused exclusively on preventable medical errors, injuries, accidents, and infections that lead to more than 500 patient deaths daily in the United States. The program is peer-reviewed, transparent and updated each fall and spring. This recognition emphasizes Maria Parham Health’s commitment to providing safe, quality care to all patients.

For more information on Maria Parham Health’s grade or to explore tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit https://www.hospitalsafetygrade.org/

Maria Parham Health Hosts Reception, Meet And Greet For Surgical Robot

/by

Part of Maria Parham Hospital’s main lobby was set up Monday to simulate one of its operating rooms, but not just a run-of-the-mill OR. Yes, there were some usual sights – a “patient” on a table, employees in scrubs, but there also was a console, a monitor and a device situated over the operating table with arm-like extensions.

It was all a part of a daylong reception to officially welcome a robot called Da Vinci to its new home at Maria Parham.

Maria Parham Public Information Officer Donna Young said the robot is a product of medical device company Intuitive; it’s been helping out in OR 3 since Oct. 1.

The hospital held a contest to encourage folks in the community to suggest a name for the four-armed high-tech equipment, which was announced at the end of the reception. Drum roll, please: Lady D is the robot’s name – short for Lady da Vinci.

Three surgeons use the system at this point, but others will complete the training so they can use it, too.

Instead of standing or sitting beside the patient, the surgeon peers into a console to see the area of the body being operated on and manipulates with the thumb and middle finger in a glove-like device that moves the robot’s arms.

Two Intuitive representatives were on hand Monday to answer questions about the device and to invite individuals to test out the system, which allows surgeons to perform complex operations with precision and control.

Maria Parham’s robot will be used for abdominal surgeries, but future plans include adding some urological and gynecological procedures, hospital officials said.

 

In addition to the advantages that the robot offers surgeons, patients also benefit from the minimally invasive surgeries and procedures, including a lower risk of infection, smaller scars, less trauma to surrounding healthy tissue and a quicker recovery.

Meet Maria Parham’s Surgical Robot Nov. 4

/by

Maria Parham Health welcomes the newest addition to its surgical team – the da Vinci Surgical Robot, a groundbreaking advancement in surgical technology. To celebrate, the hospital invites the Henderson/Vance County community to attend the “Meet the Robot!” event on Monday, Nov. 4 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

This special event will provide attendees with an exclusive opportunity to explore the capabilities of Maria Parham’s newest surgical team member. Guests will learn how this state-of the-art technology enhances patient care and surgical precision, revolutionizing the way surgeries are performed.

“We are thrilled to bring this advanced technology to our community,” said Donna Young, public information officer at Maria Parham Health. “The da Vinci Surgical Robot represents the future of robotic surgery, and we can’t wait to share its benefits with our patients and community members.”

Join Maria Parham for this informative and engaging event, where you can meet the da Vinci Surgical Robot and discover how it will improve surgical outcomes for patients.

For more information about the “Meet the Robot!” event, contact Young at donna.young@lpnt.net.

(This post is not a paid ad.)

Maria Parham Health To Hold Annual ‘Trunk Or Treat’ Oct. 28

/by

Maria Parham Health will host its 4th annual drive-thru Trunk or Treat event on Monday, Oct. 28, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., providing a safe and festive way for families to celebrate Halloween.

The drive-thru Trunk or Treat allows children to remain in their cars as they enjoy the sights and sounds of Halloween, said Donna Young, MPH public information officer.

Costumed volunteers will pass out candy through open car windows to create a unique and safe trick-or-treating experience. “We started our Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat in October of 2021, in an effort to give children a safe way to trick or treat during the  COVID outbreak. The community really enjoyed doing it this way, so it stuck,” Young explained.

Families from the Henderson and Vance County communities are encouraged to bring their little ghosts and goblins for an evening filled with elaborately decorated trunks, festive costumes, and, of course, plenty of candy!

Details about the drive-thru route will be announced about a week before the event, so be sure to keep an eye on the MPH Facebook page for the latest updates.

“Name The Robot” Contest On Now For Maria Parham’s New Surgical “Assistant”

/by

Maria Parham Health extends an invitation to the community to come out and meet its surgical robot. The state-of-the-art da Vinci robot will be officially welcomed at a “Meet the Robot” event on Nov. 4 at the hospital.

But hospital officials want the community to help name the newest member of the surgical team – and the person who submits the winning entry gets a $100 Amazon gift card, said Donna Young, MPH marketing & communications coordinator.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to engage with us and be part of the exciting advancements in our healthcare services,” Young said. “We look forward to seeing the creative names our community comes up with!”

Submit your entry via private message on the Maria Parham Health Facebook page. Entries should include the participant’s name, email address, and phone number to qualify. The winning name will be announced on Nov. 4.

Attendees will get a chance to see the da Vinci robot up close and learn how it will be used to improve surgical outcomes for patients.

Maria Parham Health To Add Robot To Surgical Team

/by

– information courtesy of Maria Parham Health

Operating rooms at Maria Parham Health are going to have an extra set of hands available to assist with surgical procedures when the da Vinci Xi comes on board.

The surgical system, a product of Intuitive, will be able to assist with providing state-of-the-art minimally invasive care across a wide array of procedures, including gynecologic, urology and general surgeries, according to information from MPH Public Information Officer Donna Young.

“Our team is excited to integrate the da Vinci Xi® system into our surgical offerings,” said Bert Beard, CEO at Maria Parham Health. “This innovative technology not only enhances our ability to perform complex surgeries with greater precision but also ensures better outcomes and faster recovery for our patients.”

But the robot, like all members of the surgical team, needs a name, and the community is invited to enter a “Name the Robot” contest. Visit the Maria Parham Health Facebook page and send a private message with your entry – along with your name, phone number and email.

All entries received before Thursday, Sept. 26 will be entered in a drawing to win a pair of tickets to the Sept. 27 “Extreme Illusions & Escapes” show at the Jones Performing Arts Center in Louisburg.

A $100 Amaon gift card will be awarded to the person who comes up with the winning name for the robot. The winner will be announced on Nov. 4 at a “Meet the Robot” event.

Since its introduction in 1999, the da Vinci surgical system has been used in more than 775,000 procedures worldwide, demonstrating its effectiveness and reliability as a surgical option for many patients in good health.

The da Vinci Xi® system integrates a sophisticated surgical console with four interactive robotic arms, proprietary EndoWrist® surgical instruments, and a high-definition three-dimensional  visual system. This advanced setup allows surgeons to perform complex operations with unmatched precision and control.

The da Vinci system combines the surgeon’s expertise with robotic precision, allowing for tiny, controlled movements that would be difficult to achieve with human hands alone. This enables complex surgeries to be performed through smaller incisions, resulting in less tissue damage and shorter recovery times for patients.

Equipped with four robotic arms and a versatile range of surgical tools, the da Vinci Xi system enhances a surgeon’s ability to perform various procedures, including:

  • Appendicitis
  • Colon cancer
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Hernia repair and other soft-tissue surgeries

The minimally invasive nature of da Vinci surgery offers numerous advantages:

  • Lower risk of infection
  • Reduced blood loss
  • Less trauma to surrounding healthy tissue
  • Decreased pain
  • Smaller scars
  • Faster recovery

For more information about the da Vinci Xi® surgical system and to learn about minimally invasive surgical options at Maria Parham Health, please visit MariaParham.com.

(Maria Parham is an advertising client of WIZS and WIZS.com. This is not a paid ad.)

Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham Health Offers Prostate Cancer Screening Sept. 19

/by

– Information courtesy of Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham Health is sponsoring a free prostate cancer screening clinic Thursday, Sept. 19 as part of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

The American Cancer Society recommends an annual screening for men ages 50 and older. The screening event will be held from 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., according to MPH Public Information Officer Donna Young. No appointment is necessary, just show up. The screening should take about 15 minutes.

African-American men and those with a history of prostate cancer are considered at higher risk, and should consider getting screened at age 45. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men; early detection is crucial and can be lifesaving.

Prostate cancer is highly treatable when detected early, and this screening could make a  significant difference for you or a loved one.

For more information, please call 252.436.1656 or visit  https://www.MariaParham.com/event/56 

 

Maria Parham Health Welcomes New OB-GYN To Staff

/by

Maria Parham Health has added an OB/GYN physician to its team.

Dr. Rachel Anne DeSpenza has joined the MPH staff, according to a press release from MPH Communications Coordinator Donna Young.

“We are excited to bring Dr. DeSpenza to the region to help make our communities healthier,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “Her training and focus on community health programs for women and families are exceptional, and Maria Parham is excited for the positive impact she will have.”

DeSpenza received her medical degree and a master’s in Health Science from Yale School of Medicine. She recently completed her OB-GYN Residency at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, CT, where she served as administrative chief resident.

She completed her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of California, Santa  Barbara, graduating with highest honors. Her academic and clinical excellence has been  recognized through numerous awards, including the William U. Gardner Memorial Student  Research Fellowship, the Yale School of Medicine Medical Student Research Fellowship, and the  ACOG CT Section Outstanding Student James F.X. Egan Award, among others.

At Maria Parham Health and Maria Parham Women’s Care, DeSpenza brings a wealth of expertise and a commitment to patient-centered care, hospital officials said. She is now accepting new patients and looks forward to contributing to the health and well-being of our community.

Call 252.492.8576 to schedule an appointment.

Maria Parham Clinics Cancel Afternoon Appointments; Planned Surgeries Not Affected

/by

Due to adverse weather conditions, all Maria Parham Health Physician Practice Clinics closed at 12 noon today, Aug. 8. If you have an appointment scheduled for this afternoon, our team will be reaching out to reschedule as soon as possible.

Good news: The hospital itself is fully operational with no loss of power, so all scheduled surgical procedures will proceed as planned.

Donna Young, the hospital’s marketing and communications coordinator and public information officer, said patients can find the latest information at the Maria Parham Health Facebook page.