Huntington Hospital

Safe, free, and effective COVID-19 vaccines are now available to everyone age 16 and up! Watch as Grace Urbina, RN, delivers a special message for teenagers who are now eligible to get vaccinated. Let’s end this pandemic. Book your appointment as soon as you can at any local vaccine clinic, including our hospital’s clinic, by visiting: https://myturn.ca.gov #myc19vaccine #VaccinatePasadena #COVID19Vaccine

This week, our COVID-19 vaccine clinic opened its doors to family members of Huntington employees and affiliated physicians. Albin and Olivia Leones, father and sister of Mellanie Leones, RN, pediatrics, were all smiles as they received their first doses of the Pfizer vaccine. What an honor it has been to meet and protect those who have been supporting our caregivers during this long fight. Thank you to all of the members of our extended Huntington family! #myc19vaccine #VaccinatePasadena #COVID19Vaccine

From feeling perfectly healthy to being diagnosed with aortic stenosis a potentially life-threatening heart condition characterized by the narrowing of the aortic valve opening Mary Lynne Knighten turned to Azhil (Alex) Durairaj, MD, medical director of cardiology, for help. Mary Lynne underwent a procedure called TAVR, a minimally invasive alternative to open heart surgery, to treat her condition. Dr. Durairaj and his whole team were fantastic, she says. Thank you to... everyone at Huntington Hospital for saving my life. Read more of Mary Lynne’s story at: www.huntingtonhospital.org/patient-story/aortic-stenosis/

Help us save lives by donating blood at an upcoming blood drive out in the community! Langham Hotel Blood Drive Thursday, April 15, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena 91106 (Georgian Room)... To sign up, call or text: (626) 676-6881 City of Pasadena Blood Drive Thursday, April 22, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. City Hall (Basement Rm S108) To sign up, call or text: (626) 676-6881 City of San Marino Blood Drive Tuesday, April 27, 8 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. San Marino Center, 1800 Huntington Dr., San Marino, 91108 To sign up, call or text: (626) 676-3035 www.huntingtonhospital.org/giveblood

As National Public Health Week comes to a close, it’s fitting to share photos from Tuesday’s community vaccine clinic at the Robinson Park Recreation Center. It was our pleasure to collaborate with Pasadena Public Health and the City of Pasadena - Public Agency to administer this life-saving vaccine to individuals like Jose Rivera, who holds up a sign honoring his late father-in-law who recently lost his battle with COVID-19. To find out how, when and where you can get vacci...nated, visit: www.huntingtonhospital.org/vaccinate-pasadena/ #VaccinatePasadena #COVID19vaccine #NPHW

Last week, we launched an advertising campaign to promote COVID-19 vaccine adoption in Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley, encouraging our community to earn their bandage of honor. We are deeply grateful for the city leaders and community members for their participation in our ads each wearing their bandage of honor. While these individuals all have their personal reasons for receiving the vaccine, they share a commitment to the health and wellness of our city by encour...aging you to protect yourself and protect your community by scheduling your appointment as soon as you are able to. To find out how, when and where you can get vaccinated, visit: www.huntingtonhospital.org/vaccinate-pasadena/ Thank you to: o Larry Campbell, Pastor, First AME Church, Pasadena o Allen Edson, President, Pasadena NAACP o Matthew Feaster, PhD, Epidemiologist, Pasadena Public Health o Ying-Ying Goh, MD, Director of Pasadena Public Health o Victor Gordo, Mayor of Pasadena o Carolyn Gordon, Lieutenant, Pasadena Police Department o John Kennedy, Pasadena City Council, District 3 o Margaret Martinez, CEO of ChapCare Community Health Services o Ena Mejia, Villa Parke Community Center o Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, President & CEO, Huntington Hospital o Jessica Rivas, Pasadena City Council, District 5 o Kimberly Shriner, MD, infectious disease specialist, Huntington Hospital o Tyrone Skinner, Pastor, Metropolitan Baptist Church o John Stewart, Pastor, New Guiding Light Missionary Baptist Church o Pamela Weatherspoon, VP, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Huntington Hospital City of Pasadena - Public Agency #VaccinatePasadena #COVID19vaccine

Did you know moms of premature infants are 40% more likely to develop postpartum depression? And that 78% of women who screen positive for postpartum depression or anxiety don't get the help they need? You don't have to go through this alone. We are here for you mama. Learn more at: www.huntingtonhospital.org/postpartum #postpartumdepression #newmama #maternalmentalhealth #momsupport #maternalwellness

Looking for specialty care for your kids? Look no further than our partner physician group Huntington Health Physicians! Expert pediatric care, close to home.

Today marks a staggering milestone, more than 500,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the U.S. With a moment of silence and our flags at half-staff, we honor and remember the half a million victims of this silent enemy.

We are proud to be recognized by Blue Shield of California with a Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) for Maternity Care designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. This distinction is a testament to our commitment to provide excellent and equitable maternity care. The BDC for Maternity Care designation is a significant achievement for not only our hospital as a whole, but particularly for our team of dedicated nurses, physicians and staff from our Family Birth Center and Mother Baby Unit who help deliver and care for over 3,000 babies every year. Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, President and CEO

The City of Pasadena - Public Agency shared an important message from our infectious disease specialist, Kimberly Shriner, MD, about the current state of the pandemic. We value their ongoing collaboration with us as we work together to keep Pasadena residents safe and healthy. #COVID19 #COVID19Vaccine #Pasadena

We denounce the attacks against members of the Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and stand with our friends, families, neighbors and all who have been impacted. Together we must #stopaapihate. Visit Stop AAPI Hate at https://stopaapihate.org to learn more.

Kimberly Shriner, MD, infectious disease specialist, gives an update on the current state of the pandemic and offers her expert advice to stay safe in this NBC News segment: www.nbclosangeles.com//hospitals-filling-up-nurs/2486198/

The current COVID-19 surge is the result of Thanksgiving gatherings and travel, and the upcoming holidays could create a new wave of infections if health orders are not followed. Please help us stop this surge by continuing to wear a mask and physical distance as you leave your home for essential work and activities only, and refrain from gathering with anyone outside of your household. We’re committed to doing our part this holiday season and we encourage you to do yours. ...#stopthesurge #COVID19 www.huntingtonhospital.org/COVID19

Thank you to the Pasadena Police Air Operations Section and the Foothill Air Support Team (FAST), as well as Santa and Mrs. Claus, for once again delivering toys to our pediatric department. Due to COVID-19, we weren’t able to have our patients greet the Clauses, but they will be able to watch a recording of the visit on hospital-issued iPads to lift their spirits. The toys donated are not only given to our pediatric patients during the holidays, but throughout the year! Than...k you to Pasadena Police Chief John Perez and the following police departments who helped bring holiday cheer: Pasadena Police Department, South Pasadena Police Department, Alhambra Police Department, San Marino Police Department, Sierra Madre Police Department, Arcadia Police Department (CA), Irwindale Police Department, Pomona Police Department, Glendora Police Department, and Covina Police Department. See more

Please help us #StopTheSurge

COVID-19 is now the leading cause of death in the United States. The time to stop the transmission of this virus is now. Stay at home and if you must go out, wear a mask and social distance. And please, skip the holiday gatherings. #stopthespread #COVID19

Nichole Ballweg, RN, CCU nurse manager, and her team have experience dealing with challenges. Patients in our Critical Care Unit (CCU) are impacted by traumatic injury, stroke, advanced heart disease, pneumonia or other extremely serious conditions that require fast, expert care. When the pandemic struck, the unit’s 115 staff members acted quickly. Partnering with our infection prevention and control experts, they expanded our CCU’s capacity from 30 beds to 46 beds. This is... truly a remarkable group of people, Nichole says of her colleagues. "They go to extraordinary lengths to bring the best of care to our patients and they have continued their work without pause during the pandemic." Above all, Nichole singles out the nurses and aides with whom she works with for special praise. It’s hard for me to find the words for how brave and selfless this group of people is, she says. They come in every day and suit up to do a very difficult job with a great attitude. We’re all in this together.

We are taught that a smile is the shortest distance between two hearts and a universal way to connect with people. However, with COVID-19’s impact, it is harder to make that connection behind a mask or PAPR hood. The clinical team currently on 5 East (who was relocated from 4 West to support COVID-19 patient care) found a creative way to share their smiles and connect from behind the mask. They created a beautiful display that juxtaposes photos of team members wearing masks with photos that reveal the heartfelt smiles of the compassionate people behind the masks for patients and visitors to see when on their unit!

It is International Infection Prevention Week, a time to recognize the outstanding work of our infection prevention and control department! Thank you to this dedicated team for the many lives they've saved we’re grateful for their vigilance and perseverance.

Our hospital has been named America’s 100 Best for Cardiac Care and Coronary Intervention by Healthgrades, the leading resource that connects consumers, physicians and health systems. I’m so proud our hospital has been named one of Healthgrades America’s 100 Best for Cardiac Care and Coronary Intervention, now for the second year in a row, said Lori J. Morgan, MD, MBA, President and CEO. These designations are a testament to the world-class care our entire cardiovascular s...ervices team offers our patients. While the pandemic continues, our number one priority is caring for our community, shares Azhil (Alex) Durairaj, MD, medical director of cardiovascular services. Our cardiovascular team works hard every day to provide excellent and safe care to our patients. Heart disease impacts so many of our friends and family members. I encourage you to make your physical and mental well-being your first-priority during this challenging time please see your doctor and don’t delay the vital care you need. To learn more, visit: www.huntingtonhospital.org//huntington-hospital-named-ame/

It’s Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week and we want to recognize our food and nutrition services team for the essential role they play in helping patients and caregivers get the nourishment they need! We thank them for their dedication to preparing and serving high-quality, nutritious food to our patients, doctors, employees and visitors.

Congratulations to the winners of our High School Blood Drive Competition: La Salle High School and Mayfield Senior School! We appreciate everyone who supported local schools, and helped our patients at the same time, by donating lifesaving blood. A total of 143 units of blood were donated over a three week period! www.huntingtonhospital.org/giveblood

Enjoy all the benefits of Medicare Advantage by enrolling in a new plan or making changes to your existing plan during the Annual Election Period from October 15 to December 7. To find what Medicare Advantage health plans we accept, visit: HuntingtonHospital.org/healthplans... To RSVP for a free online Medicare benefits seminar, visit: HuntingtonHospital.org/hhpevents Huntington Health Physicians

It’s Emergency Nurses Week and we want to recognize all the exceptional nurses in our Emergency Department! We are so grateful for their tireless efforts to protect our community’s health during this pandemic, and every day. Join us in thanking these healthcare heroes for the compassionate, life-saving care they deliver to all who need it.

Flu season is upon us and if you haven’t already, it’s time to get your flu shot. It’s more important than ever to take steps to prevent you and your loved ones from getting the flu during this pandemic. You can still take advantage of our free community flu shot clinics on 10/14, 10/18, 10/20 and 10/21. To see where you can get your free flu shot (no reservation or insurance required) and what to do if you get the flu, visit: www.huntingtonhospital.org/flu

Join us for the Senior Care Network Tele Noon Hour Series: Maintaining breast health for life, Wednesday, October 14, 2020, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Come hear why it’s important to get screened for breast cancer and the latest treatment options. Reservations are required at least one day in advance. To make a reservation, please complete the registration form on our website at www.huntingtonhospital.org/telenoon or call our membership line at (626) 397-3147.... #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth

It’s #WorldMentalHealthDay. Now, more than ever, it’s important to check on our friends and family members who may need help. For information about our mental health programs and resources, go to: https://bit.ly/34PxngC

We are so proud to help support American Heart Association - Los Angeles County Division and all of their efforts to help fight heart disease and stroke. Looking forward to virtually walking with you all tomorrow!

It’s Pediatric Nurses Week and was recently NICU Nurses Week, and we want to thank all our wonderful neonatal and pediatric nurses who take care of our young patients. Their compassion and expertise are unmatched we are so grateful for their dedication to safeguarding the health of our community’s children! #NICUNursesWeek #PediatricNursesWeek (Please note: these photos were taken before the COVID-19 pandemic.)