Local hospital leaders expect the COVID-19 vaccine to help address staffing challenges during the pandemic.
Southern Illinois Healthcare, which operates Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Herrin Hospital, St. Joseph Memorial Hospital, and clinics throughout southern Illinois, has vaccinated more than 1,200 of its employees since the first batch of Pfizer vaccines arrived last week. It s been stressful here. But last week, when we were able to sign up for the vaccine and heard the shipment had arrived, it really was a joyous moment here. We keep hearing it called a shot of hope, said Tera Lannom, director of nursing excellence at SIH. This shot of hope feels like the beginning of the end of the pandemic. It really is such a huge scientific discovery and a historic moment for us.
University of Kentucky HealthCare (UKHC) and Mercy Health-Lourdes Hospital announced Friday a new collaboration to expand cardiovascular services in the area.
As the first hospital in western Kentucky to join UK Gill Heart & Vascular Instituteâs Gill Affiliate Network, Mercy Health-Lourdes now offers area residents the benefit of UKHC physiciansâ expertise in subspecialty cardiovascular services.
âTodayâs announcement, along with the growth of our cardiovascular offerings and new providers, positions Lourdes as the areaâs leader in heart care,â Michael Yungmann, president of Mercy Health-Lourdes Hospital, said. âThis collaboration extends UKâs impact in our region so that our patients have access to the universityâs high quality, state-of-the-art emergent cardiovascular care right in our community.â
FRANKFORT, KYÂ â Gov. Andy Beshear reported the largest number of coronavirus-related deaths reported in one day Thursday.
Reporting 54 virus-related deaths, Beshear said Thursday represents by far the largest number of people lost in Kentucky in one day because of the pandemic, calling it one of the hardest days since early on in the outbreak. These are 54 families that need our help and our compassion and our green lights, Beshear said during a briefing on the virus, reminding that the green lights the governor has encouraged Kentuckians to light represent compassion for those who ve lost their lives and the loved ones mourning them.Â
PADUCAH â One hundred health care workers in Paducah have now had the COVID-19 vaccine. Thursday, Mercy-Health Lourdes Hospital administered the first of the 975 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses it received.Â
Dr. Brad Albertson was the first person at the hospital to get the COVID-19 vaccine. He said he s feeling good so far, and he s proud to be a part of this process.
Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Jenny Franke said the vaccine is a relief for many of the hospital s employees.
Mercy-Health Lourdes Hospital shared a video of Dr. Brad Albertson getting the shot. Albertson said he s is excited to be part of the first steps to combat the virus.
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