Beacon Health System

While fireworks are beautiful, they can cause serious harm. At Beacon, our emergency departments see numerous injuries every summer, ranging from minor burns to life-altering accidents, with a significant spike around the Fourth of July. “These aren’t just minor incidents. We’re talking about severe burns, eye injuries, and even traumatic amputations of fingers or hands,” says Stacie Bobeck, MSN, RN, Beacon trauma educator and outreach/injury prevention coordinator. “We’ve also treated patients for hearing loss due to the loud explosions.” Our older loved ones may face unique challenges and risks. Consider taking extra precautions for seniors around professional or other fireworks displays. “As we age, our reflexes slow down, and our sensory perception may change,” Bobeck says. “This can make seniors more vulnerable to fireworks-related accidents.” Please share these safety tips to avoid accidents and injuries: https://bit.ly/45OBlVQ

While she originally thought she would be a high school math teacher, Ashley Ruiz, CNM, switched her sights to nursing after a favorite teacher suggested she consider the field of health care. After taking a health career course her senior year, Ashley decided to attend nursing school. In caring for women at all stages of their reproductive journey, Ashley says her goal is to promote the social, spiritual, psychological, cultural, and physical well-being of all the women in her care. She stays current on the latest practices and also learns from each patient, as their unique story or experience help her develop as provider. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gUvz4QVM

After unsuccessful treatments for a balance issue, Lydia Williams’ family turned to Beacon’s Neurosurgeon Daniel Fulkerson, MD. Lydia had been having balance issues for about three years, while she was a healthy high-school competitive swimmer. Eventually she was unable to walk, and the family sought treatment for her in Chicago, where they lived. But after unsuccessful procedures, they turned to Beacon at the recommendation of a family friend. Dr. Fulkerson identified the problem and within a week’s time, placed a Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt, followed by a Chiari decompression surgery. Lydia says after talking to him, she almost immediately felt she was in good hands. “It was one of those feelings that will stay with me for a long time.” She continues to work on relearning to walk and talk. “The care [at Memorial] felt so personal,” Lydia says. “Beacon is amazing. Click here to read the full story: https://bit.ly/3xyHjgJ

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine most often diagnosed in adolescence. It’s important to diagnose early so your pediatrician can monitor its progression. Sometimes patients with more severe curvatures are referred to an orthopedist for treatment, said Dr. Shanna Kautzmann, pediatrician at Beacon Medical Group Pediatrics Main Street. She recently spoke about this condition on WVPE radio during National Scoliosis Awareness Month. “Using a brace really can prevent a lot of progression,” Dr. Kautzmann said. “It is even to me surprising sometimes the activities that kids are still able to do with their brace.” Hear more about scoliosis from Dr. Kautzmann: https://bit.ly/3VKxF2r

We want to offer a special shout out and thank you to the University of Notre Dame Women’s Basketball Team for scoring extra points with our pediatric patients during their recent visit and to Beacon Children’s Hospital. The kids enjoyed getting messy and painting with you. We always appreciate your visits!

The ways that artificial intelligence (AI) has been transforming health care has been one of the hottest business topics in recent years. Building Indiana sought out to learn more about how the tremendous amount of advancement in a relatively short time is affecting Hoosier hospitals and healthcare delivery across the state. Dr. Scott Eshowsky, Chief Medical Information Officer, said Beacon is increasingly using AI for voice recognition, medical image analysis and physician documentation. “The scope of AI applications in health care has seen impressive growth in recent years.”

Depression and anxiety are often hidden struggles for many men, going unnoticed by their friends and family members. “I think things are slowly changing, but boys are taught to suppress their emotions and push through problems even from a young age, and those habits will last with them into adulthood,” said Dr. Chris Hall, a family medicine provider at Beacon Medical Group Cleveland Road in South Bend. While it’s encouraging to see the current generation becoming more aware and vocal about emotional issues, Dr. Hall highlights a common misconception: Many still believe that speaking up about depression and anxiety will inevitably will lead to a prescription for medication. And that’s not always the case. Hear much more from Dr. Hall on WVPE: https://bit.ly/4cDAGsy

It was in 2005 that Henry Kirori, NP, decided to pursue a career in nursing. “My mother was a nurse, but I never thought I would pursue the same profession,” he says. Always intrigued by the cardiovascular system, he chose that as his specialty. His education taught him to appreciate health and life one day at a time. “I always provide the best care possible and never stop learning,” he says. Henry continues, saying he is committed to the patients he cares for and gets a satisfaction when a patient’s condition improves. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gF6iDzJc

The South Bend Cubs welcomed Royalty to Four Winds Field tonight. The 5-year-old South Bend girl who was diagnosed with brain cancer during the pandemic initially received treatment at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. But thanks to Beacon Children’s Hospital, she was able to continue receiving care close to home. She underwent three brain surgeries and multiple chemotherapy treatments at Beacon. Today she’s in remission. And tonight, Royalty will take the field and run the bases as part of our Home Run for Life partnership with the South Bend Cubs. To support the work of our teams at Beacon Children’s Hospital for awesome kids like Royalty: https://bit.ly/4cesJKT

Tune in to WVPE to hear Dr. M. Shakil Aslam discuss Beacon’s groundbreaking adoption of non-invasive heart imaging technology that enhances clinical decisions for coronary heart disease patients. This cutting-edge technology transforms angiograms into 3D heart models, improving patient comfort and reducing hospital stays. Beacon has treated dozens of patients using the new system, and interventional cardiologists like Dr.Aslam believe it marks the beginning of AI’s transformative impact on health care. “Non-invasive technology will revolutionize the care that we provide to our patients and the quality of care that they receive,” he said. Hear much more from Dr. Aslam on WVPE: https://bit.ly/3zdfACR