St. Joseph's/Candler

Meet Melchor Garcia, government supervisor in our patients accounts department. Mel has been with St. Joseph’s/Candler for more than 14 years and has 20 years of experience in government billing. He supervises the team that handles insurance billing for Medicare and Medicaid. Mel makes sure proper steps are being followed to get bills out in a timely manner and that his team has all the support they need to do their job. “What I enjoy about my job is the idea that I’m helping people get their own accounts resolved. Within our community, there are a lot of elderly people and a lot of people that need help, and that’s what we do here. We make sure we can help people through our patients accounts division. We are able to help people when things happen that are sometimes beyond their control. It really is a team effort to help the patient, and I’m just one part of it, and I’m glad that I’m here to help patients in this capacity of their healthcare.” “I also appreciate all the extra things St. Joseph’s/Candler does. The health system really cares for the community, and it’s apparent by all the good work we do. Throughout our community, we are everywhere. It’s rewarding to be a part of an organization that has its hands in making our community better whether it’s St. Mary’s facilities, Georgia Infirmary or other outreach programs. I really enjoy seeing our works in action.” Meet other featured co-workers on our website: https://lnkd.in/eeWCBmCU #medicalbilling #medicare #healthcare #coworkers

“So even just a two-millimeter reduction is a big deal,” says Dr. Eugene Nwosu, internal medicine physician at St. Joseph’s/Candler Primary Care located on Eisenhower Drive. “These are major risks associated with hypertension and by managing them, you will make a difference.” If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to kidney disease, osteoporosis, heart attack, heart failure, cardiac arrest, aortic aneurysm and stroke. If you have elevated to high blood pressure, the first thing you can do, and that your physician will recommend, is make healthy lifestyle modifications, Dr. Nwosu says. He offers tips here: https://lnkd.in/ehDTVaRS

SJ/C employs social workers, sometimes referred to as clinical care coordinators, to help with a variety of needs outside of your medical treatment. At the LCRP, for example, we have four social workers that assist patients in Savannah, Bluffton, Hilton Head and our other regional offices. “If we feel there is a need or if we see a need, we try to help with that need,” says Farris Smith, licensed social worker at the LCRP in Bluffton and Hilton Head. “We may not always have the answers, but we will find them if don't. We are advocates for our patients.” A healthcare social worker provides patients, families and other caregivers with support and resources needed to cope with their illness. More at https://lnkd.in/gXAheBaZ #socialworkers #hospitalsocialworkers #clinicalcarecoordinator #cancercenter #cancercare #cancer #healthcare

We were proud to donate 50 cases of N95 respirator masks to volunteers at Richmond Hill United Methodist Church. The masks are being distributed along with cleaning supplies and other necessities to homeowners who sustained flood damage. One of the most serious repercussions of flooding is the emergence of black mold in the home, which can trigger allergic reactions in many people. Inhalation of the spores of black mold can also cause respiratory issues. Because N-95 masks are designed to filter out airborne particles, they are the most effective masks for protecting volunteers during clean-up. Pictured in the second photo, from left to right, are Richmond Hill United Methodist Church's Jack Caldwell, Director of Youth Ministries, and Carol Smith, Lay Leader, with our Purchasing Director Joe Loya. Our thoughts remain with everyone in Chatham and Bryan counties who are still recovering from the flooding that followed Tropical Storm Debby.

It often happens overnight—you go to bed with two normal knees but in the morning one of them looks like a balloon. Or your big toe has doubled in size. To make matters worse, it’s quite painful. The culprit could likely be gout, which is a buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. To confirm the problem, physicians like Steven Greer, MD, of St. Joseph’s/Candler’s Physician Network – Bone, Joint & Muscle Care, will aspirate, or draw out, the fluid that is causing the swelling with a needle. “There are a few reasons why a joint, like in the knee, would swell up,” Dr. Greer says. “The aspiration will let us know if it is due to an injury, an infection or from the crystals that build up and cause gout.” Dr. Greer will send the fluid he aspirates to the lab to confirm a diagnosis. He may additionally give the patient an injection to relieve pain. Patients notice that with the fluid now gone, they can return to their full range of motion. “If your body perceives an injury, it sends healing cells to that area through this fluid,” Dr. Greer explains. “Which is useful to a point, but the change in volume can alter the mechanics of your tendons. If it stays swollen long enough, it can alter your gait. Then your gait can cause ankle, knee or back problems.” More at https://lnkd.in/eMExTEkP #healthcare #jointcare #orthopedics #familymedicine #sportsmedicine #familyphysician #physician #jointpain

Have you ever had your blood pressure checked and it was suddenly elevated or high, but a month later at another doctor’s appointment, your blood pressure was normal? That’s because blood pressure readings can fluctuate, so much so that your reading can be different even hours apart. So if it’s elevated all of the sudden, there may be no need to panic. But everyone should take blood pressure seriously as ignoring ongoing high blood pressure – also called hypertension – can lead to complications as serious as heart attack or stroke. “A lot of people don’t know when their blood pressure is high. You can be very asymptomatic and feel fine but on the inside your pressure is rising and continuing to put you at high risk of sudden complications,” says Melissa Johnson, clinical pharmacy specialist for St. Joseph’s/Candler’s Center for Medication Management. She also sees patients at our Pooler Primary Care office, and Johnson counsels St. Joseph’s/Candler co-workers in our WellPath Hypertension Program. More at https://lnkd.in/dHQwPNGn #clinicalpharmacyspecialist #medicationmanagement #healthcare

Meet Aisha Jenkins, medical records coordinator for St. Joseph’s/Candler – South Carolina Cancer Specialists in Hilton Head. Aisha has worked here for more than a year and is a jack of all trades. She is responsible for making sure all medical records are properly sent out, whether it’s for an outgoing referral to another specialty or at the patient’s request. She also answers phone calls and works with patients to make sure their needs are met. Aisha can also fill in at the front desk or anywhere she is needed. “Honestly, I enjoy everything about my job. I love that it’s fast-paced. I love working with the patients. The patients are super sweet and easy to work with. I also like working with the doctors and communicating with them. It’s a very good environment where I am. I’ve been in different fields from physical therapy to urology. I can honestly say oncology is my favorite.” “Working at the LCRP, I can definitely see the standard of care being practiced here. Everyone feels like a family. As you grow to know the patients, it’s very warm and comforting, not only for them, but me as well. It’s definitely a patient-focused environment, and from interacting with the patients, I can definitely tell they feel that way as well.” Meet other LCRP co-workers on our website: https://lnkd.in/ecNwkQ6P

We performed our 600th TAVR procedure this week. Every milestone we hit with this advanced procedure not only makes us proud but also reminds us how far we’ve come. The Heart Hospital was the first in the region to employ this technology in 2013. TAVR stands for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, or TAVR. The procedure replaces calcified aortic valves without opening up the heart like in traditional surgery. TAVR has given new hope to patients who can’t tolerate open surgery and it can dramatically reduce recovery time.

Meet Aisha Leeks, certified nursing assistant for the Adult Day Center at Georgia Infirmary. In total, Aisha has worked off and on at the Adult Day Center for more than 20 years. She’s been a St. Joseph’s/Candler co-worker for eight years at Georgia Infirmary with four years prior experience working in occupational therapy at Candler Hospital. In her current role, she leads bingo and exercises with the clients at the Adult Day Center. She also plays cards and games with them. And for the ones who need helping with changings and feedings, Aisha assists with that as well. Fun fact about Aisha: She was born at the Georgia Infirmary when it was still a hospital. “It seems like I was meant to be here. It means a lot to work here and to give back. I love the people. They are so sweet. It’s like family here. I’ve really gotten to know a lot of the clients very closely. Anything that involves helping people, I enjoy. I also enjoy working for St. Joseph’s/Candler. It just feels friendly. If feels like you belong there. St. Joseph’s/Candler is a good place to work.” Meet other featured co-workers on our website: https://lnkd.in/eeWCBmCU

When you are sick or injured, your healthcare team will use many tools to find out what’s wrong in order to get you better. Sometimes that includes imaging diagnostic machines to get an inside look of your anatomy. One such device is a CT scan. CT stands for Computed Tomography. Essentially, it’s a more intuitive X-ray machine, producing multiple 2D images as opposed to one-dimensional images a traditional X-ray produces, explains Chelsea De La Cruz, team lead of the CT department at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Using a computer, all images taken are combined to produce a detailed look at the body’s anatomy. A CT scan can look at everything from head to toe including every organ in the body, the vascular system, bone abnormalities, brain bleeds, blood clots, masses/tumors and infections, De La Cruz says. At St. Joseph’s/Candler, we offer the latest technology in imaging, including the GE Revolution CT Scanner, one of the quickest imaging machines available. We offer CT scanning at four imaging locations: - St. Joseph’s Hospital (two in imaging and a third in the emergency department) - Candler Hospital (three between inpatient and outpatient imaging) - SJ/C Imaging Center – Pooler - SJ/C Imaging Center – Bluffton With more and more people needing CT scans, it’s important to have a good understanding of the machine and not fear it. Here are six things you should know about CTs: https://lnkd.in/e5audK3Y