Sense of purpose, personal connection motivates EVS associate during pandemic

Maggie Alvarez is an Environmental Services associate at Memorial Hospital. When COVID started, it was scary. We were seeing a lot of elderly people dying of it. We wore masks and shields and glasses and were still afraid to breathe. I didn’t want to touch anything, even with gloves on. Or...

Project HOPE awarded $1 million grant to fight substance abuse in Marshall Co.

In August 2020, the Health Resources & Services Administration under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Beacon Health System a 3-year, $1 million grant to assemble and support a collaborative coalition within Marshall County to address opioid and substance abuse, which resulted in Project HOPE. Project HOPE...

Pandemic helps Elkhart EVS associate realize, “This is what I am supposed to be doing”

Tori Stack is an Environmental Services associate at Elkhart General Hospital. "In the early days of the pandemic there was an overwhelming amount of new information and policy changes for the entire hospital. As an Environmental Services associate, we break the chain of infection keeping patients, family members and clinical staff...

Long-time Beacon Children’s NICU nurse reflects on privilege of caring for babies

Sharon VanDeWielle, BSN, RNC-NIC, celebrated 40 years in July at Memorial Hospital of South Bend. She has spent more than 20 of those years working as a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. "I feel blessed to play a small part in what the NICU makes possible for our babies...

“Adopt a Pet” helps normalize pediatric experience during COVID

Pediatric patients oftentimes miss their friends and family members who aren't able to visit them at Beacon Children's Hospital during the pandemic. And while visitor restrictions remain in place, children are also missing snuggles with their favorite volunteer therapy dogs. This is where Jessica Lewin and the other Beacon Child Life...

Elkhart General nurse reflects on starting her career during pandemic

Story by Langston Johnson, Intern, Beacon Corporate Communications The intercom rang inside the Memorial Hospital Critical Care Unit and Taylor Freedline watched everyone around her pause. The Bethel University graduate, who was working on clinicals to finish nursing school in March, listened to the announcement they anticipated hearing sooner or later:...

Beacon nurse jumps into action to help elderly victim at accident scene

Kelsey Likens remembers everything happening in slow motion. The Beacon nurse had just left a Mishawaka hair salon Tuesday afternoon with a fresh cut and color. She closed the door behind her at just after 3 o'clock and started down the steps. She was headed to work at MedPoint Urgent Care...

Beacon gastroenterologist explains importance of early detection of colon cancer

The death of 43-year-old actor Chadwick Boseman has put a spotlight on colon cancer, and the uptick of young people who are being diagnosed. Beacon Medical Group Gastroenterologist Binoy Ouseph explains the early signs and symptoms of colon cancer, and the importance of early detection. He also discusses age and...

Pediatricians emphasize importance of well visits, vaccinations

It’s important that parents do not delay well visits or vaccinations for their kids and adolescents during the pandemic, because missing these appointments can have an adverse affect on their health. Safety precautions remain in place at Beacon Medical Group offices as the community faces the new reality of dealing with...

ICU doctor humbled by his COVID patients’ hope to “simply to stay alive”

Dr. Luke White, Beacon Medical Group critical care and pulmonary specialist, shares his perspective of working on the front line of the pandemic. "Keep it up!" "Are you eating OK? Can I get you anything?" "It's great to see you sitting in a chair!" The things I say to my patients in the ICU...