Baptist team members, the community and hospital patients and visitors had the opportunity to learn more about heart health, healthy lifestyle choices and screenings for heart disease during events supporting American Heart Month in February.
Baptist Heart at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center
Baptist Heart at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center and Baptist Health Foundation hosted an event on Friday, Feb. 7 featuring a MEGA Mini Heart, a giant inflatable model of the human heart. Attendees learned about heart health and how to live a healthy lifestyle. The event earned media attention from three TV stations in Jackson, Mississippi.
Baptist Heart also sponsored the Tribute Tree at Baptist Heart to honor or remember patients and family members with heart disease.
Dr. H. Chris Waterer III led the “Your Heart Matters” educational seminar on Wednesday, Feb. 19 for 25 attendees at Baptist Heart. The seminar focused on the latest technologies to treat heart disease. After the educational portion of the event, instructors from the Stompin’ Grounds and A Teacher’s Hobby led participants in painting canvas hearts.
Dr. Jeremy White spoke to more than 120 attendees at a luncheon at First Baptist Brandon on Monday, Feb. 10. Jennifer Rhea, nurse practitioner, spoke to a group about heart health on Thursday, Feb. 13 at Sunrise Baptist Church in Carthage, Mississippi. Lynne Currie, nurse practitioner, participated in an educational segment on mitral valve regurgitation on Feb. 13 at Studio 3, a daily afternoon local television show.
Baptist Carroll County
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County welcomed local high school students and their instructor Tanya Ricketts from the Huntingdon Special School District for a tour of the Cardiac Rehab department. Led by Cindy Cole, registered nurse and director of Cardiac Rehab, students learned about the importance of heart health, the rehabilitation process and how the team at Baptist Carroll County helps patients on their journey to recovery.
Baptist Carroll County also hosted community members for a heart-healthy meal at an educational luncheon event on heart health, led by Amber Bradley, family nurse practitioner and staff development specialist, and Cindy. This free event provided education on cardiovascular disease prevention through lifestyle choices and early detection.
Baptist DeSoto
Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto celebrated American Heart Month while providing heart health education to team members, visitors and the community. Team members enjoyed Heart Healthy Smoothie Day with a side of cardiac care education, provided by team members from the hospital’s cardiac service line and dietitians. Team members also provided blood pressure checks and education on heart health in the main lobby.
Baptist DeSoto was the presenting sponsor of the Southaven Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Landers Center. Dr. Arie Szatkowski and Dr. Dharmesh Patel, Stern Cardiovascular physicians in Southaven, were guest speakers. They shared the importance of having a Heart Score screening and knowing your risk of heart disease, living a heart-healthy lifestyle, healthy eating and other ways to improve one’s heart health. Heart Score is a noninvasive CT scan of the heart that measures the amount of calcium in the coronary arteries to help detect heart disease before symptoms occur.
At the luncheon, Brian Hogan, CEO and administrator of Baptist DeSoto, gave an update on recent growth at the hospital. Stephanie Conner, Intensive Cardiac Rehab nurse, and Dee Dandridge, advanced nurse clinician, provided blood pressure checks.
Baptist Golden Triangle
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle held its annual Go Red for Women Luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 6 at the Lion Hills Center in Columbus, Mississippi. Around 100 women, and the men who support them, attended this free event. Dr. Julius Kato, an invasive cardiologist, discussed heart disease, focusing on cardiomyopathy (which makes it more difficult for the heart to pump effectively).
Attendees were encouraged to wear red in support of National Wear Red Day on Feb. 7. Gifts presented to attendees included a tote bag and a Red Dress lapel pin. The goal of the National Go Red for Women campaign is to raise awareness and educate women and their family members on the dangers of heart disease, the leading cause of death for women in the U.S.
Baptist Golden Triangle received an overwhelming response to its Go Red for Women Luncheon. To accommodate those who couldn’t attend in February, the hospital plans to repeat the program in March at a Learn at Lunch event with Dr. Kato.
Baptist Golden Triangle also raised nearly $4,000 for United Way of the Golden Triangle Region with its $50 Heart Score screenings, held each Saturday in February. The hospital performed 153 screenings with 50% of each screening fee donated to the United Way.
Baptist Union County
In recognition of National Wear Red Day on Feb. 7, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County colleagues joined together to show support for heart health by wearing red. The observance emphasizes the importance of heart health for women.
NEA Baptist
NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital hosted Heart Day on Friday, Feb. 14 in the NEA Baptist Conference Center. The event was open to the public and offered free screenings along with education and opportunities to meet with representatives from cardiovascular service lines. The Arkansas State University Football team also stopped by to meet with attendees.
