Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Mumps have made headlines recently as the acute viral illness spreads across the country and densely populated areas, like college campuses. Do we need to worry about mumps here in Northern Kentucky? According to Michele Wilbers, an infection preventionist with St. Elizabeth Healthcare, there has been only one reported mumps case in the Northern Kentucky area in 2017.* But, you can never be too careful. It’s important to know the signs and symptoms and take steps to protect you and your family, in case an outbreak does occur in the Tri-State. How do the mumps spread? Mumps spreads…

If you are trying to improve your health, you might want to change your snacking habits, say St. Elizabeth experts. Are snacks recommended between meals? Snacking is a great way to add extra nutrients to your diet that you may not be getting at regular meal times. It’s also a good way to maintain energy levels throughout the day, but dietitians at the St. Elizabeth Weight Management Center say that a snack is not a meal, and you need to know the difference. “[Snacking] is a portion-controlled way to indulge in the food that you really love without letting…

Olivia and Heidi Schultz have more in common than genetics. The sisters both followed their passion to make a difference by becoming registered nurses at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Inspired by personal experience Olivia’s passion for nursing started at a very early age after being diagnosed with a complete heart block. She was in and out of the hospital during her childhood and saw first-hand the passion her nurses felt for helping others. Now, Olivia works in a transitional care unit (TCU) at St. Elizabeth Fort Thomas, where she cares for patients with heart disease. Her personal experience allows her…

In nursing, a small action can go a long way in making a difference in the lives of patients. Demonstrating kindness, creating a positive environment, lending an extra hand and being attentive to the needs of patients are small actions that make a huge difference to patients’ experience of care. St. Elizabeth nurse Lisa Taylor takes pride in the little things that make her job so special. Her colleagues describe her enthusiasm as infectious and say she never leaves home without a positive, uplifting attitude. Taylor is an excellent leader to her team at St. Elizabeth Edgewood and has received…

Ashley Powell, a registered nurse at St. Elizabeth Florence, always puts patients’ and colleagues’ needs above her own. Whether it’s being the first to respond to calls from patients or assisting her peers during times of need, Powell is a reliable and positive team member. Her popularity among patients and their families is demonstrated in the dozens of CareGrams she receives every month. This year, Powell was nominated for the Florence Nightingale Awards for Nursing Excellence, which recognizes outstanding nurses in the Greater Cincinnati region who go above and beyond expectations to provide exceptional patient care. Her colleagues share the…

We’ve all heard an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what about a smile? For St. Elizabeth nurse Tina Baynum, a smile also has the power to heal and define a patience’s experience. As a nurse and team leader at St. Elizabeth Edgewood, Baynum makes an effort to get to know each patient, empathize with them and listen and respond to their needs. Her colleagues describe her as the perfect example of someone who makes a difference not only in her unit, but across the health care system and community. Baynum strives to be a patient’s advocate and…

The chance to inspire others to learn more, do more and become more is what drove Lisa Volpenhein to the nursing profession. Volpenhein began her career at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in 2005 as a nursing assistant and quickly progressed to professional nursing in 2009. She currently works in medical and surgical intensive care at St. Elizabeth Edgewood as a charge nurse and has become a sought-after resource for her colleagues. Her passion and respect for the profession are what drive her to be a continuous learner and serve in multiple leadership roles across the health care system. Recently, Volpenhein graduated…

According to Local 12’s Liz Bonis, it’s not your imagination: People who don’t usually get allergy symptoms this time of year are reporting them to area physicians at St. Elizabeth. Here’s what you need to know to feel better The same plants that are  making it beautiful outside this spring are making you miserable inside with symptoms such as itchy eyes, watery eyes, sore throat, or a runny nose. Dr. Sofia Qureshi, a family medicine specialist with St. Elizabeth, says it’s likely that seasonal allergies are making you miserable. When you start to feel miserable, try to get into…

When Eric Warning became a nurse in 2010, it was a dream coming to fruition after years of hard work. Warning started at the Florence Emergency Department in 2007 as a technician, which involved assisting the Emergency Department treatment team to provide quality care to patients.  But, he soon realized he wanted to expand his knowledge so the next step was nursing school. Warning graduated and was hired into an RN position in 2010, continuing to provide quality care to patients, now in the role of a nurse.  He is extremely involved in the Florence Emergency Department, mentoring and transitioning…

Unfortunately, Northern Kentucky is plagued with widespread substance abuse and substance use disorders, but for St. Elizabeth nurse Carla Hamilton, helping patients and their families battle addiction is a passion and a fight she intends to pursue – all the way to Washington, D.C. if necessary. Carla fights for NKY Carla began her RN career in an alcohol and drug treatment center. Her passion for caring for those affected by the disease developed there; and, while substance abuse programs were certainly not new in health care, Carla was determined to bring the best available care to the center and…