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NEWS RELEASE

Ephraim McDowell Heart & Vascular Institute welcomes Jessica Barker, APRN, FNP-C, ENP-C. Jessica is board-certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Emergency Nurse Practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She has eight years’ experience as a nurse practitioner and seven years of nursing experience. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Morehead State University and her Master of Science in Nursing from Western Kentucky University.

Jessica lives in Harrodsburg with her husband and their two children. During her free time she enjoys camping, boating, and travelling to national parks.

Ephraim McDowell Heart & Vascular Institute is located at 216 West Walnut Street and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

EMRMC recognizes nurse

Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center recognized one of its nurses for her extraordinary patient care. Ashley Berry, R.N., a nurse in the Emergency Department at EMRMC, was one of many nurses nominated for the DAISY Award. A resident of Boyle County, Ashley has been caring for patients at EMRMC for two years.

She was nominated by a coworker that said, “An Emergency Department patient was being discharged home and Ashley had noticed some changes in the patient’s vital signs. Ashley alerted the physician that she wasn’t comfortable discharging the patient and why. This prompted the physician to order additional testing that found pulmonary embolisms in the patient’s lungs. She literally saved the patient’s life. We are so proud of her and she is an amazing nurse.”

Ephraim McDowell is proud to recognize nurses with the DAISY Award, a national program which honors the compassionate care and clinical excellence that nurses bring to their patients every day. Nomination forms for the DAISY Award are available at various locations throughout Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital, Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital and other Ephraim McDowell facilities.

Free hernia screening

Ephraim McDowell Health will be offering a free hernia screening on Saturday, May 13 at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center.  Surgical experts will share information about this common, but poorly understood condition, and the latest minimally-invasive procedures using the da Vinci Surgical System.  Participants will also be able to view the da Vinci Surgical System.

Individuals experiencing any of the following symptoms may benefit from the screening:

• Swelling, a bulge or pain in the abdomen, pelvis or groin area

• Pain or discomfort, especially when bending over, coughing or lifting

• Weakness, pressure or a feeling of heaviness in your abdomen

The screening will take place from 8 a.m. to noon on the second floor (surgery waiting area) at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center.  The screening is free, but pre-registration is recommended by calling (859) 239-2010 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Lifeguard recertification

McDowell Wellness Center is offering a lifeguard recertification class beginning May 5.  The training will take place on May 5 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and May 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The class may also meet on May 7 if there is a large number of participants. Participants must have held an American Red Cross lifeguard certification within the last two years and the certification should not be expired more than 30 days to qualify for recertification training.

All participants are required to pass the pre-test: must be able to swim a total of 300 yards, consisting of 100 yards freestyle, 100 yards breaststroke, and an additional 100 yards of either freestyle or breaststroke.  Students must also be able to tread water for two minutes and be able to recover an object from the bottom of the pool and return to the other end of the pool in a set amount of time.

The training consists of a lifeguard review course and in-person skill sessions over a period of 2-3 days. After successful completion of the course, participants will receive certification for Lifeguarding and Professional Rescuer, which includes CPR with AED and First Aid training.

Anyone interested in the recertification class should register by May 4. The class fee is $100 and includes participants’ review training, in-person skill sessions and certification card. Please call Karla Curtsinger at (859) 936-7219 or email Karla at: kcurtsinger@emhealth.org to register or for more information.