St. Francis Medical Center

Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE! Today our Executive Leadership Team rounded on all departments in the hospital to bring holiday greetings to staff -- along with some tasty desserts and snacks they hope everyone is enjoying. CEO Dan Jones, COO Margaret Pfeiffer, CFO Terri Pasion, and CNO Guy Phipps would like to thank our healthcare team for being here over the holidays to provide ongoing excellent, compassionate care to all of our patients. To our amazing hospital heroes - Your dedicated efforts and spirit of giving shed a light of holiday cheer across our hospital. Happy Holidays to our St. Francis Medical Center team!

WITH ONE GIFT, THERE ARE BLESSINGS ABOUND - Thanks to a generous donation of games, activities, and action figures to St. Francis, our Spiritual Care team, Health Benefits Resource Center, and Children's Counseling Center have been able to celebrate Christmas with our community. A gift given to one, can bring infinite smiles to so many others. It's the magic of Christmas!

Do you think you may have COVID-19? If you think you’re sick, follow guidance about when to call your doctor: Monitor your symptoms. Call ahead before visiting your doctor. Avoid close contact with others when you’re out. ¿Crees que podrías tener el COVID-19? Si crees que estás enfermo, sigue las indicaciones de cuándo llamar a tu medico: Vigila tus síntomas. Llama antes de ir al medico. Evita el contacto cercano con las otras personas cuando salgas.

The COVID-19 vaccine is a public health milestone, and the St. Francis Medical Center team continues to administer vaccines to our frontline caregivers. We asked some of our team members why they are getting vaccinated. Phallee, Director of NICU/Peds I am getting vaccinated because I’m a frontline healthcare provider. I want to make sure I am protecting myself and others. Dr. Ayman Allawadi, OB-GYN I am getting vaccinated for family and for my community. #COVID19 #maskup #teamsfmc

Have you made your appointment to get your flu shot? Flu vaccination is especially important for those with chronic health conditions such as diabetes and COPD. Flu shots are recommended for everyone age 6 months and older, with rare exceptions. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in your body and provide protection against the flu. The CDC recommends that you get your flu shot by the end of October. Talk to your primary care provider if you have questions regarding the flu shot.

This Infection Prevention Week, St. Francis Medical Center wants to thank our infection prevention team for providing leadership and expertise during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infection preventionists work across various hospital areas to understand the spread of disease and combat its occurrence. They study the hospital environment and conduct lab work to recognize trends and they put protocols in place to ensure that patients, visitors and fellow healthcare workers thrive in a safe environment. Infection preventionists are liaisons with public health agencies to help identify and respond effectively to community outbreaks and plan for public health emergencies. Thank you to our amazing infection prevention team for their dedication to our community, especially during this critical time.

St. Francis Medical Center has been a vital part of the community for 75 years. We want to introduce you to some of the people who help keep the hospital safe and ready to provide care. Brother Richard Hirbe is the Director of Spiritual Care & Ethics at St. Francis Medical Center and has been a chaplain with St. Francis Medical Center for more than 30 years. He and his team provide patients and families with onsite, personalized support when they are anxious, confused or facing end-of-life issues. Spiritual needs and resources are very important during hospitalization, says Brother Hirbe. Regardless of whether religious faith is a part of your life, we are here to listen, comfort and serve you. St. Francis is the House where God Lives and that spirit permeates everything we do. #TeamSFMC

FRIDAY FITNESS TIP: Do you warm up before exercising? Warming up helps your muscles prepare for more intense physical activity. Warming up your muscles helps them absorb more oxygen and increases blood flow, which helps lessen your risk of injury. Common warm up exercises include: jumping jacks, jumping rope, walking/slow jog, ankle circles, and torso twists. Take five-10 minutes to warm up before your workouts to enhance the health benefits.

On National ER Nurses Day we want to thank our ER nurse heroes for their amazing work and dedication to patients. Never before have ER nurses had so much asked of them as they have this year. Thank you for your courage.

St. Francis Medical Center is asking our community to remember the 3Ws as we continue to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19. WEAR a mask. WATCH your distance. WASH your hands. The 3Ws can significantly reduce your risk of getting COVID-19 and help keep loved ones safe. For the safety of our patients and our staff, physicians, and volunteers, SFMC continues to practice the 3Ws and other safety measures to continue making SFMC a safe place to receive care.

Today is Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Metastatic breast cancer is also known as stage IV breast cancer. It is the most advanced stage of the disease, occurring when the breast cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day is part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a day to increase awareness and visibility for those who are living with metastatic breast cancer and those who are working to find a cure. St. Francis Medical Center supports cancer patients and families through the emotional and social effects of cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Lakers for winning the NBA championship! #lakers #nba #champions #losangeles

World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10 every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health. Please visit the World Health Organization page for resources on managing stress and looking after your mental health. Teena Ahuja, Prime Healthcare’s Vice President, Behavioral Health, has this advice, Take control, love yourself, be kind to your mind and remove the stigma #worldmentalhealthday #2020

FRIDAY FITNESS TIP: Remember to rest! It’s important to give your mind and body a break. Figure out what helps you truly relax. Maybe it’s watching your favorite show, reading a book/magazine, talking with a friend, or playing with your pet. Rest helps you recharge your batteries and helps you maintain energy and productivity.

Today is National Depression Screening Day. Like screenings for other illnesses, depression screenings should be a routine part of healthcare. A screening is not a diagnosis, but it can be a helpful tool for starting a conversation with your doctor or a loved one about your mental health. This screening is free, anonymous, and confidential. https://www.mhanational.org/national-depression-screening-d