Tag Archive for: #mariaparhamhealth

Maria Parham Franklin’s Hope Benton Receives 2024 Mercy Award

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Information from Donna Young, MPH Marketing & Communications Coordinator 

A CNA II/Nurse Tech based at Maria Parham Franklin in Louisburg has received the 2024 Mercy Award for her exceptional dedication to healthcare, community service and advocacy.

Hope Benton is this year’s recipient of The Mercy Award, given to one employee at each of Lifepoint Health’s facilities who touches the lives of others in profound ways and represents the spirit and values upon which the company was founded, according to information from Maria Parham’s Marketing & Communications Coordinator Donna Young.

 The Mercy Award is an annual recognition program that honors the life and contributions of Scott Mercy, Lifepoint’s founding chairman and chief executive officer. The award is considered the highest honor a Lifepoint employee can receive.

Benton’s selection as the Mercy Award winner holds particular significance as she becomes the first Maria Parham Franklin-based recipient since the hospital’s reopening nearly six years ago as part of Maria Parham Health. Her commitment to restoring vital emergency services and addressing the region’s mental health crisis underscores her unwavering dedication to the community’s well-being.

From a young age, Benton said she felt a calling to healthcare, inspired by her family’s visits to local nursing homes. Her passion for helping others led to a 22-year career at a local assisted living facility, where she discovered her true vocation in healthcare.

As a highly skilled paramedic and now a nurse tech/CNA, Benton serves as a mentor and guide to her colleagues, earning a reputation as a go-to team member at Maria Parham Franklin. Known for her approachable demeanor and willingness to assist, she embodies the values of a star employee and Mercy Award recipient.

Beyond her clinical duties, Benton is an advocate for the hospital’s mission in the community, actively engaging in volunteer activities with organizations such as the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life. Her efforts have been instrumental in fostering partnerships and making a positive impact on community health initiatives.

Benton’s exceptional care extends to behavioral health patients in the Emergency Department, where she demonstrates uncommon empathy and compassion. Her dedication to preserving their dignity and well-being sets a standard for excellence in patient care.

“With such positive energy to serve our community and her home, Hope is making a difference in our health system daily,” said Bert Beard, CEO at Maria Parham Health. “Her unwavering commitment to compassionate care embodies the legacy of Scott Mercy, and we are proud to recognize her as our 2024 Mercy Award recipient.”

Maria Parham Health Hosts Appreciation Lunch for Local Law Enforcement and Firefighters

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The smell of burgers grilling will be wafting across the campus of Maria Parham Health Thursday as hospital staff hosts the 2nd  annual Burgers for Badges to honor local law enforcement officers and firefighters.

Law enforcement officers and firefighters are invited to pull around to the back entrance of the hospital between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and, with a quick flash of their badge, will receive a complimentary meal as a token of gratitude for their service and dedication, according to hospital officials.

Attendees will be treated to a delicious burger with all the toppings, accompanied by scrumptious sides and dessert. This event is a gesture of appreciation from Maria Parham Health to the brave men and women who work tirelessly to keep the community safe.

“We are immensely grateful for the selfless service and sacrifice of our local law enforcement officers and firefighters,” said Bert Beard, CEO at Maria Parham Health. “This event is our way of expressing our heartfelt appreciation for their unwavering commitment to our community’s safety and well-being.”

Please note that this event is exclusively for law enforcement and fire personnel. Maria Parham Health kindly requests attendees to respect this guideline.

MPH Celebrates Hospital Week With A Variety Of Activities, Fun And Food

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Information courtesy of MPH Marketing & Communications Coordinator Donna Young

Maria Parham Health proudly celebrated Hospital Week from May 12 to May 18, honoring and appreciating the exceptional dedication and hard work of its hospital team.  Throughout the week, MPH organized a series of engaging activities and events to foster team spirit and camaraderie among its staff members.

The week kicked off with ‘Merica Monday, where MPH team members showcased their patriotic spirit by decking out in red, white and blue. The celebration featured an array of food trucks including Bun on the Run, Hen and Hound and Baton Rouge Cuisine, which provided a delicious variety of cuisines.

Tuesday, known as Color Day, saw MPH staff adorned in vibrant hues, adding a burst of color to the hospital environment. Harriett Baptist Church generously sponsored free hot and cold coffee for the staff, served by Love is Coffee. The day also featured an indulgent Ice Cream Sundae bar, complete with an assortment of toppings to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.

Wednesday embraced the theme of Wild and Tacky Day, encouraging team members to embrace their creativity with mismatched prints, crazy color combinations, and unconventional headwear. Andy’s Kettle Corn and Ernestine’s Caribbean Cuisine tantalized taste buds with their delectable offerings.

Tropical Day brought a taste of the islands to MPH, with staff donning Hawaiian shirts, muu muus, and flower leis. A hospital cookout added to the festivities, with MacScoops providing frozen treats to beat the heat.

The week culminated with Sports Fan Day on Friday, where MPH team members proudly displayed their favorite team apparel. Jones BBQ food truck served up mouth-watering barbecue delights, and staff were treated to exciting giveaways throughout the day.

“We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and hard work of our hospital team,” said Bert Beard, CEO at Maria Parham Health. “Hospital Week was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate their commitment to providing exceptional care to our community. We are proud of our team’s resilience, compassion, and teamwork, which are integral to our mission of making communities healthier.”

Maria Parham Health extends its sincere appreciation to all its staff members for their unwavering dedication and contribution to the hospital’s mission.

Visit www.MariaParham.com to learn more about the hospital’s services and programs

Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham Health Hosting Memorial Day Event – Gather ‘Round The Flag Poles On May 23 At 10 AM

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Maria Parham Health invites the community to a special Memorial Day event Thursday, May 23 to pay tribute to the courageous individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

“Let us come together as a community to honor and remember those who have selflessly served our nation,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “We extend a warm invitation to everyone to join us in this meaningful tribute to our fallen heroes. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten.”

The commemoration will take place at the flagpoles of Maria Parham Health on Ruin Creek Road, beginning at 10 a.m., according to information from MPH Marketing & Communication Coordinator Donna Young.

This commemorative event will feature:

  • Prayers for those who gave their lives in service
  • Guest speakers sharing reflections
  • Music to uplift and inspire
  • The hanging of a Memorial Wreath
  • Reading of Names in Memoriam to honor individuals’ sacrifice

All members of the public are invited to join us as we come together to honor and remember our fallen heroes. Whether you have a personal connection to the military or simply wish to pay your respects, your presence is deeply appreciated.

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to hospital auditorium to ensure the solemnity of the occasion remains undisturbed.

This special program comes on the heels of an earlier event on May 2, the National Day of Prayer. At 12 noon, team members from three area hospitals – Maria Parham Henderson, Maria Parham Franklin in Louisburg and Person Memorial Hospital in Roxboro – gathered at their respective locations to offer prayers for the nation, their hospitals and patients, as well as for families.

Beard, who serves as Market CEO at Maria Parham Health and Person Memorial Hospital, expressed appreciation for those who gathered together at the three locations. “In  moments like these, we are reminded of the profound impact of collective prayer in fostering  hope, resilience and compassion within our community,” Beard said.

The National Day of Prayer observance provided an opportunity for hospital staff to come together in a spirit of solidarity, reflecting on the challenges faced by our nation and our healthcare system  while also offering gratitude for the tireless efforts of frontline workers and the resilience of  patients and families.

“We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all who participated in this meaningful observance,” added Beard. “Together, through the power of prayer and compassion, we can continue to support and uplift one another, fostering a culture of healing and unity within our hospitals and beyond.”

-information courtesy of Maria Parham Health

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TownTalk: Beard Discusses Rural Health Care

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Maria Parham Health CEO Bert Beard said the state of health care in this area is in a pretty good spot these days. That doesn’t mean that rural hospitals like Maria Parham don’t continue to face challenges, but Beard said hospitals in other markets are facing some of the same things.

Beard was a guest on Thursday’s TownTalk to discuss some of the trends that he’s seeing from his vantage point.

Medicaid expansion, he said, is allowing more uninsured or under-insured residents access to health care. The number of new enrollees is about half a million, approaching the prediction of about 600,000 in North Carolina.

“We’re lagging a bit in Vance County,” he said, but health care professionals at MPH as well as Granville Vance Public Health and others are always looking for new enrollees.

With rising costs and the constant demand to find qualified health care employees, Beard said the Medicaid expansion “has given us a lifeline that we desperately needed.”

Beard said he and his colleagues knew hospitals were headed down a path to a health care provider shortage, but the COVID-19 pandemic hastened that process. Without adequate staff, some small hospitals simply couldn’t afford to keep the doors open, which only brings more challenges to the rural areas they serve.

“Services are going away that are vital,” he said. One of those is maternal services. It’s critical that expectant moms be within, say, an hour of a hospital that provides those services, for the safety of the mom and the child.

When he spoke at the April 23 “state of health care” forum sponsored by the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, Beard said top on people’s minds was the mental health crisis that is so often in the news.

He looks forward to the Emergency Department’s Safe Space project that has received funding and said it will transform how patients in crisis can be managed when they come through the Emergency Department.

Mental health issues are multi-dimensional and under-resourced, Beard said, noting that psychological issues are often entangled in social issues and substance abuse, which exacerbate the problem.

“We’ve got to be more deliberate in how we invest in that,” he said. Public-private partnerships like MPH behavioral health services in Louisburg is something that Beard said he is quite proud of.

Whether through collaboration or providing quality health care by Duke physicians and others, Maria Parham is poised to keep patients across the region it serves top of mind when it comes to community care.

It must be a mutually supportive relationship, however, Beard said. When you seek care, seek local care first.

“It’s more important than ever,” he said, that “when people have good available local health care, that they choose it – the alternative is that health care goes away if it’s not supported locally.”

“We’re working every day to get better every day. That comes with a mutually supportive relationship with our community.”

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SaddleRock Farm Hosts “Henderson Spectacular” For Community On April 27

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The folks at SaddleRock Farm are gearing up for the “Henderson Spectacular” on Saturday, Apr. 27, when the property will be open to the public for a host of activities and fun for the whole family.

Farm owner Larry Johnson and his granddaughter-in-law Emily Parker are weaving in a religious theme into all the activities that will be taking place on Saturday, Apr. 27.

The event is taking place just a few weeks after Easter and they want to spread the word, especially about The Greatest Story Ever Told.

Gates open at 11 a.m. and the fun continues until 3 p.m. Come early, Johnson advised, so you’ll have a chance to enjoy all the activities that are in store.

“I’m blessed to be a part of it…I’m glad to have it at the farm – it’s special,” Parker said in a recent interview with WIZS.

“Our farm furnishes the location,” Johnson said, and New Sandy Creek Baptist Church is a primary sponsor for this year’s “Spectacular,” which will feature horse rides and hayrides, inflatables for the kids to play on, puppet shows and much more.

Then there’s the food – think carnival food like popcorn, sno-cones and drinks to go along with all the outdoor fun – “all for zero cost,” Johnson added.

The farm is a for-profit endeavor, providing riding lessons, field trips and birthday parties throughout the year. But it’s important to Johnson to give back to the community, and hosting the event is his way of going that.

“When I bought that farm, I didn’t buy it for the public, I bought it for my family. Not too long after that, God spoke to my heart and said he had provided that farm…not just for my family but for other people. So when we opened in April 2010, we had a pretty big dedication service and we dedicated that farm to the Lord and his work. We do have to make a living – the farm does have to support itself, but it is dedicated to the Lord and every opportunity we have to provide any service that people can learn more about the Lord, we do that.”

SaddleRock Farm is located at 1786 Weldon’s Mill Rd., Henderson.

Join H-V Chamber For “State Of Health Care 2024”

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The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce is hosting the first “state of” session for 2024 on Tuesday, April 23 to discuss local health care. The deadline to register is Thursday, April 18. Tickets are $30.

Guest speaker for the lunchtime event is Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health.

The lunch and learn will begin at 12 noon at Southern Charm Event Center, 200 S. Garnett St.

Beard will share updates on a variety of health care topics and is scheduled to discuss what’s happening locally as well as at the state level with Medicaid expansion and access to health care, among other topics.

Call the Chamber office at 252.438.8414 to learn more or email Tanya Wilson at tanya@hendersonvance.org to reserve your seat.

Maria Parham Health Releases 2023 Community Benefit Report

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–information courtesy of Donna Young, MPH Health Market Coordinator, Communications & Marketing

Maria Parham Health has published its annual community benefit report for 2023, outlining the indirect impact it has on the community as well as the obvious impact to provide a variety of medical services and treatment available to patients.

The report outlines the various ways the hospital is working to support the health and economic vitality of the Henderson/Vance County community as part of its mission of making communities healthier®, according to hospital officials.

“As a leading healthcare provider in Henderson and Vance County, Maria Parham Health is committed to providing high-quality care close to home, investing in our region’s overall well-being and making a positive impact on those we serve,” said Bert Beard, chief executive officer of Maria Parham Health. “This year’s report highlights our continued efforts to provide compassionate care – both inside and outside our hospital walls,” Beard said.

In 2023, Maria Parham Health added 67 providers in anesthesiology, behavioral health, cardiology, family and emergency medicine,  gastroenterology, genetic counseling, neurology, OB/GYN, oncology, orthopedics, pediatrics, psychiatry,  radiology, wound care and more. Maria Parham Health also made more than $1.6 million in capital improvements, including an ultrasound machine for Women’s Health, new orthopedic workstations for blood testing and opening a new Franklin County physician office.

Additionally, Maria Parham Health donated nearly $63.6 million in health services to those in need, demonstrating its continuous commitment to ensuring everyone has access to care, regardless of their ability to pay.

Maria Parham Health is also devoted to creating environments where providers want to practice and where employees want to work. Last year, the hospital distributed more than $68 million in salaries, wages and benefits for its approximately 770 employees, while contributing more than $124,000 in professional development and tuition assistance to give all employees the opportunity to learn, grow and improve the care they provide their patients.

MPH also paid $13,279,020 in local and state taxes to support local organizations and activities like Shop with a Cop and Friends, The Salvation Army and McGregor Hall.

“We are proud to call Henderson and Vance County our home, and we feel incredibly grateful for the continued support of all those who entrust us with their care. Our success would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our providers, employees, and volunteers,” said Beard. “As we look ahead to the future, we are so excited to continue improving the ways we serve our neighbors and communities.”

View the full community benefit report here:

https://www.mariaparham.com/community-benefit-report?query=community+benefit+report

 

 

Maria Parham CEO Bert Beard Speaker For Chamber’s “State Of Health Care” April 23

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The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce is hosting the first “state of” session for 2024 on Tuesday, April 23 to discuss local health care.

Guest speaker for the lunchtime event is Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health.

The lunch and learn will begin at 12 noon at Southern Charm Event Center, 200 S. Garnett St.

Beard will share updates on a variety of health care topics and is scheduled to discuss what’s happening locally as well as at the state level with Medicaid expansion and access to health care, among other topics.

Tickets for the lunch and learn session are $30; purchase a table for 8 for $240.

Call the Chamber office at 252.438.8414 to learn more or email Tanya Wilson at tanya@hendersonvance.org to reserve your seat by Thursday, April 18.

Maria Parham Offers Program To Raise Awareness of Colorectal Cancer

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Maria Parham Health will host a Lunch and Learn program on Thursday, Mar. 21 to talk about colorectal cancer early detection and prevention. Seats are still available for this event; register online at MariaParham.com or by calling 252.436.1605. The program will be from 12 noon to 1 p.m. and will be held in the classroom of the hospital, located at 566 Ruin Creek Rd.

According to information from the American College of Radiology, colorectal cancer is now the leading cancer killer in men under 50 and the second leading cause of cancer death for women under 50.

African Americans are also the most likely to die from this terrible disease.

But colorectal cancer is nearly always treatable if caught early and can even be prevented through timely screening. It is recommended that you should talk to your doctor about colorectal screening beginning at age 45.

“We are committed to raising awareness about colorectal cancer and providing our community with the information they need to make informed decisions about their health,” said Kimberly Smith, Director of the Maria Parham Cancer Center.

“Through events like this, we hope to highlight the importance of early detection and screening in preventing colorectal cancer, ultimately saving lives,”Smith said.

Federal law requires private insurers to cover not only colonoscopy – but also virtual colonoscopy and other less-invasive screening options at no cost to patients.

A virtual colonoscopy is an American Cancer Society-recommended screening exam to be done every five years for those at average risk. The virtual exam may also be an option for those at increased risk who can’t physically tolerate a colonoscopy. The more people are aware of virtual colonoscopy as an option, the more people choose to be screened, and the more lives will be saved.

The Lunch and Learn Event will feature board-certified gastroenterologist Varnita Tahiliani, MD, who will discuss various aspects of colorectal cancer, including risk factors, symptoms, screening options, treatment modalities, and lifestyle modifications for prevention. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage with healthcare professionals in an interactive setting.

Lunch will be provided. Due to space restrictions, registrations will be limited to the first 30 attendees that register.

For more information about the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Lunch and Learn Event, please visit www.MariaParham.com.