Archives for Heidi Prescott-Wieneke

ICU doctor humbled by his COVID patients’ hope to “simply to stay alive”

Dr. Luke White, Beacon Medical Group critical care and pulmonary specialist, shares his perspective of working on the front line of the pandemic. "Keep it up!" "Are you eating OK? Can I get you anything?" "It's great to see you sitting in a chair!" The things I say to my patients in the ICU...

Memorial nurse shares feelings of “mom guilt” in the time of COVID

Kristen Johnson, a Memorial oncology nurse educator, who worked in the COVID unit, offers a candid perspective about how she is struggling with "mom guilt" during the pandemic. The first time I felt fear as a mother related to Covid-19 was during our initial hospital briefing. While sitting in the Memorial...

NICU nurse, mom, talks about anxiety surrounding back-to-school

Amber Sahlhoff, a wife, mom and Beacon Children's Hospital NICU nurse, talks candidly about how she is coping during the pandemic and with the uncertainties surrounding the start of the new school year.  I woke up one morning last week crying in my sleep. In my dream, it was me who...

A note from our Chief Clinical Officer

We know Coronavirus can impact anyone. It affects not only older adults and those with underlying health conditions, but it also affects young and healthy people. Thankfully, we now know much more about the transmission of this virus and we can make better recommendations on how to contain its spread....

Against all odds: One woman’s fight against COVID-19

Tami Slaven watched her wife walk slowly into the isolation room as she lay in her hospital bed, struggling to breathe. The loud, engine-like noise from the negative pressure exhaust fan masked the noise of her gasps for air. She felt excruciating pain with every breath. Her partner of seven years, Sue...

Love in the time of Coronavirus

"The Coronavirus pandemic has brought with it many challenges, fear and uncertainty. But, alongside the challenges, fear and uncertainty, it has also brought love. I see love in the Beacon associates who selflessly volunteered to work on the COVID units, from nurses, to therapists, physicians, aides, respiratory therapists, environmental services, nutrition...

Franciscan Beacon Hospital prepares to open doors in La Porte

Franciscan Health and Beacon Health System celebrated the culmination of their partnership and the end of construction at the new Franciscan Beacon Hospital with a blessing and ceremonial ribbon cutting on Friday, June 12. Franciscan Beacon will officially open its doors to patients in the coming weeks. The two trusted health systems...

Elkhart VP of Medical Affairs: “I can confidently say that we are prepared”

During the past week, Elkhart County has seen an increase in positive COVID-19 patients. The rate of increase has been concerning not only to people in the community, but also to people in health care, said Dr. Michelle Bache, Vice President of Medical Affairs, Elkhart General Hospital. Here is our...

Supporting the front lines during the pandemic

“In my career, I’ve always been clear on things that I don’t ever want to be good at. Helping to lead and support an organization through a global pandemic would be one of those things. It is a competency I hope we never have to develop further beyond our current...