Beacon cardiologist: Emergency response, training, are critical for commotio cordis sports injury

Many of us stopped and held our breath Monday night when we saw the Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin collapse on the field after a tackle during a televised game. Experts speculate Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest from a condition most of us have never heard of: commotio cordis. There are risks when you...

Beacon hospitals deliver first babies in St. Joseph, Elkhart counties for second consecutive year

It’s not unusual for the Memorial Hospital childbirth team to deliver five babies in a few hours on an average day. But on New Year’s Day? That’s something very special. “It happens more than you would think, but not on New Year’s. It feels like a long adrenaline rush to have so...

Is it the flu, a cold, RSV or COVID? How to tell the difference

Cases of COVID-19 are on the rise and community transmission is high across our region. Hospitals usually don’t see this much flu until late January or early February, and other respiratory illnesses like RSV remain a concern. Each illness is different. But with overlapping symptoms, it can be challenging to know...

Weather-related closings at Beacon Health System

Weather-related closings at Beacon Health System are listed on our website. Click on the red Weather Alerts & Closings bar at the top of the page or visit the Alerts page for more information.    ...

Family honors son through annual gift donations for patients at Beacon Children’s Hospital

Tyler Allman’s natural ability for sports was interrupted after he received a Batten Disease diagnosis as a child. Batten Disease is a rare, fatal disorder that has no cure. The disease progressed as Tyler aged. He lost his vision, suffered from seizures and became confined to a wheelchair during the last...

Parents: Be mindful of loud toys, says Beacon ear, nose and throat specialist

Those new, noisy gifts for kids and teens could be more than annoying — the toys could also bring a risk for hearing loss. “Noisy gifts are a problem for both children and parents,” said Dr. Erin Kevern, a Beacon Medical Group otolaryngologist. “Gifts are becoming louder each year in order to...

Memorial Hospital cardiovascular team celebrates TAVR achievement

Congratulations to Memorial Hospital’s cardiovascular team for earning certification from the American College of Cardiology for its Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) program. TAVR may help those with severe aortic stenosis, a condition that decreases blood flow from the heart out into the body. The minimally invasive procedure, which does not require open heart surgery, involves...

Beacon Children’s Hospital receives creative, inspiring gift from Penn High School senior

Rileigh Zickafoose found herself in a pickle. While taking inventory of the teaching tools she has available to help young patients understand the care they are receiving, the new Child Life Specialist realized she didn’t have anything to explain what it’s like to get an MRI. While MRIs are painless imaging...