Archives for Heidi Prescott-Wieneke

Beacon associates reflect on life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Inspired by Dr. King, then and now I do not remember the first time I heard Dr. Martin Luther King's speech, but I do remember the first time I really read and absorbed his message. I was inspired and motivated to be a better person, regardless of my environment and nationality. I...

As we count down to 2021, we cannot let our guard down

By Kelly Jolliff, Infection Prevention and Emergency Preparedness Manager  As we look to celebrate the New Year and say good-bye to the history making 2020, let us look back and reflect on what we have learned and how this can help keep us safe in the coming year. For many of us,...

Lippert assists area hospitals to address healthcare workers’ mental health

Lippert Components, Inc. (LCI®) is partnering with Goshen Health Foundation, The Foundation of Saint Joseph Health System, and Beacon Health Foundation to provide support of $150,000 in 2020 and another substantial gift at the beginning of 2021 to fund mental wellbeing initiatives for frontline healthcare workers that are working relentlessly...

Together forever: Husband and wife take their last breath within hours of each other

Dawn Morehouse entered the hospital room and sat down beside a patient suffering from COVID. His chest X-rays showed his accompanying pneumonia was spreading and his oxygen levels were dropping so low he would soon require intubation. Knowing this, the patient said he decided to discontinue treatment. As a Memorial Hospital...

KeyBank generously donates Sunburst sponsorship to Beacon Children’s Hospital

Despite the cancelation of the Sunburst Races this past summer, KeyBank has generously donated its presenting sponsorship funding to Beacon Children’s Hospital. This donation will ensure the continuation of the Child Life Program, which supports young patients and their families during hospital visits. In addition to this $25,000 donation, the Cleveland-based...

Elkhart General RT describes “personal struggle of fortitude and perseverance”

Randy Stouder has worked as a Respiratory Therapist for more than 40 years, including 19 years at Beacon. Since February, Randy has cared for COVID patients in the Emergency Room, Intermediate Critical Care, Medical floors and Intensive Care units at Elkhart General Hospital.  "To accurately describe what is happening in our...

Beacon expands partnership with Pediatrix and Obstetrix Medical Groups of Indiana for obstetrical hospitalist care

Obstetrix Medical Group of Indiana will begin providing obstetrical hospitalist physician coverage in February 2021 at Memorial Hospital of South Bend. Obstetrix Medical Group currently provides high-risk maternal-fetal medicine coverage at Memorial, and for nearly 40 years, Pediatrix Medical Group has provided neonatal coverage at Memorial’s internationally recognized Newborn Intensive...

Beacon redeploys nurses, providers to support near-record levels of COVID patients at hospitals

Beacon Health continues to have near-record levels of inpatient admissions with significant stress on its providers and staff throughout the organization. The health system is redeploying nursing staff and providers from outpatient areas to support its acute care facilities because of this. Many nonclinical staff members are also volunteering to...

Final moments with a COVID patient: “I try to be their support until the end”

Amber Hodges, an Elkhart General Hospital registered respiratory therapist, shares her perspective about caring for COVID patients who are about to die. "I honestly didn’t think this was going to be any worse than the flu. I just figured it was going to be something we could get under control fast....

Elkhart General respiratory therapist describes joy, heartbreak, in caring for COVID patients

Erin Fini, a certified respiratory therapist at Elkhart General Hospital, describes caring for COVID patients. "We have patients coming into the Elkhart General Emergency Department who are having trouble breathing by the carloads every day. We see patients who are young and old, patients who have preexisting conditions, and people who...