HCA Florida Highlands Hospital

On #WorldSepsisDay our Highlands team is sporting red and black to raise awareness about this medical emergency. Sepsis is the body's overwhelming response to an infection or injury. Symptoms may include an unusually high or low body temperature, signs of an infection, mental decline, including being confused, sleepy, and difficult to wake up, and extremely ill – whether it be severe pain, discomfort, or shortness of breath. Timing is everything! Every hour of delayed diagnosis increases the chance of death by 4-7%. Approximately 270,000 Americans die from sepsis each year. HCA Healthcare’s SPOT tool (Sepsis Prediction and Optimization of Therapy) was created by HCA Healthcare clinical and IT experts using data from millions of patient care episodes. It is an algorithm and alert system that monitors patients’ vitals and other data that signal impending sepsis. SPOT can alert nurses and doctors to the first signs of sepsis, hours before they would typically recognize the condition. We want to thank our outstanding quality team and sepsis coordinator, Joselyn, for their dedication to this important matter, and for their role in providing the highest level of care to our patients. If you have any questions on sepsis, call our free Consult-A-Nurse number at 844-70-NURSE (6-8773).

In recognition of Environmental Services Week, we are proud to celebrate the incredible environmental services (EVS) team members at HCA Florida Highlands Hospital and across our larger HCA Healthcare network for maintaining a safe and clean environment for patients, colleagues and visitors. Each day, these essential members of our care teams play an integral role in infection prevention, patient safety and overall care experiences. The hard work and dedication of our EVS team members have a positive impact on the high-quality care we deliver. Thank you, EVS professionals, for creating a welcoming space for everyone who walks through our doors. #PositiveImpact #EVSWeek

Today, and every day, we remember the lives we lost on Sept. 11, 2001, their families and the survivors who witnessed it all. Alongside our HCA Healthcare family, we pause to honor the brave actions of our first responders and everyday citizens who selflessly and courageously fought back. We remember, always. #NeverForget #PatriotDay

Last week, we kicked off our physician lecture series at the Highlands County Family YMCA! Dr. Collin Smith, an emergency medicine physician affiliated with Highlands, presented on signs of a stroke, highlighting the important acronym B.E. F.A.S.T. We appreciate those that joined us and look forward to our next lecture on Wednesday, October 2 at 9:15 a.m. If you have any questions regarding stroke, please call our free Consult-A-Nurse number at 844-706-8773.

We made WFLA-TV News Channel 8 / WTTA-TV The CW Tampa Bay! On #NationalDogDay last month, we shared our paws-itive partnership with Highlands County Sheriff's Office as they hosted a quarterly therapy dog training event here at Highlands. We appreciate the opportunity to serve as an example as the dogs acclimate to the unique sights and sounds of a hospital environment.

For today’s #FeelGoodFriday we are featuring Betty and Jim, a 101-year-old mother and 84-year-old son who are patients at Highlands together! It’s not common to hear that a family member is in the hospital with you, but they make the best of the situation by visiting each other’s room down the hall every day, with the help of our medical/surgical team. Since they live together, it ‘feels like home’ when they watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy on TV.

Happy #NationalDogDay! Having a 'ruff' day? This will make you smile! We were honored to recently partner with Highlands County Sheriff’s Office to host a quarterly therapy dog training at our facility. Fifteen therapy dogs and their sheriff’s office K-9 teams from counties across the state of Florida gathered here earlier this month to gain exposure and get acclimated to a hospital setting and its unique sights and sounds. It’s a win-win situation for all as our colleagues get the chance to love on the furry friends as a way to de-stress. This National Dog Day, join us in celebrating therapy dogs as they spread joy and 'pawsitivity' wherever they go! #PositiveImpact #TherapyDogs

As a part of HCA Healthcare, we believe that nurses are the heart and soul of our company, and we are committed to providing them with the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive in their roles and deliver exceptional care. We listened to their feedback, and made strategic capital investments that not only make their work lives easier, but improve our patients’ quality of care as well. As part of our #TeamThursday, we’re highlighting our intensive care unit (ICU) nurses and some of the equipment they have already received that will help them meet the evolving healthcare needs of our community. Thank you, ICU nurses, for all that you do!

Investing in our nurses means investing in the heart of healthcare. By providing robust support, continuous education and innovative resources, we empower nurses to deliver exceptional care. As a part of HCA Healthcare, we are proud to launch Nurse Forward, which strengthens our ongoing commitment to place nurses at the forefront of care through developing strong leaders, enhancing clinical expertise, and championing a care-first culture. Our Highlands nurses had a blast celebrating our Nurse Forward kickoff with groovy music and delicious food in our cafeteria.

#WeShowUp for our communities! HCA Florida Highlands Hospital recently collected over 1,000 individual school supplies to be donated to Healthy Families Highlands, which is a local program that equips caregivers with the resources needed for them and their children to succeed at home, in school, and in life. This milestone contribution would not be possible without the kindness and generosity of our colleagues and fellow community members that donated numerous school supplies and cleaning items throughout the summer. We hope all of the students, teachers, and families in Highlands County and beyond have a safe and enjoyable school year full of learning, fun, and #HealthierTomorrows. #HCACares