Hurricane Helene was a once-in-a-generation storm that caused massive disruption in our community – and much suffering for our neighbors in Western North Carolina. In Spartanburg, trees were down everywhere you turned, tens of thousands of residents lost power, children were out of school for more than a week, and many businesses were shuttered for days.
It has been inspiring to see community members come together to support those in need. From City of Spartanburg staff to power line repair crews, to medical workers and more, we saw an impressive effort to get through the worst of the storm’s aftermath.
One key partner in addressing the needs of residents who have been without power, suffered property damage, or experienced other challenges is the United Way of the Piedmont. UWP had provided financial assistance for about 500 households in our community. Some families were provided with Airbnb credits so that they could have a safe place to stay while their homes were uninhabitable.
Efforts by the UWP team and its partners to provide assistance are ongoing. We are so grateful for their leadership in our community’s time of extreme need.
October is Breast Health Awareness Month. Women age 40 and over are encouraged to schedule a mammography screening. Regular screenings can detect cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages – giving women the best opportunity for a healthy outcome.
There are eight Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health locations across the Upstate, as well as two mobile units that make mammography screening accessible at churches, business, and community centers.
Make a screening appointment or learn more by visiting https://www.spartanburgregional.com/locations/bearden-josey-center-breast-health-spartanburg.
While the focus is on breast cancer awareness during October, the Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health and Gibbs Cancer Center dedicate cutting-edge resources and compassionate care to meet the needs of patients throughout the year.
One of the cancer center’s key areas of patient support is its Cancer Survivorship Program. The program provides education about side effects of treatment, information on nutrition and healthy lifestyle strategies, and help coordinating medical appointments. The Cancer Survivorship Center also promotes fellowship and community. Each spring, the Gibbs team hosts a special Cancer Survivors Day. More than 500 survivors, family members, volunteers, and caregivers come together to celebrate and encourage one another.
McKenzie Speed, who serves as Manager of Cancer Outreach and Patient Engagement, is proud of the annual event and the year-round efforts to help those going through and recovering from a cancer battle. “It is amazing to work with such dedicated and passionate people,” she says. “Cancer impacts so many people in many different ways and having a team who understands that impact makes the work even more meaningful.”
Learn more about the Gibbs Cancer Center Survivorship Program by visiting https://www.spartanburgregional.com/services/cancer/cancer-survivorship.
Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist Team
November is National Diabetes Month. According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 38 million Americans have diabetes. The Medical Group of the Carolinas Diabetes Education program works hard to provide support for those in the Upstate living with the disease.
Managing diabetes can be challenging. With six Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, the Diabetes Education program provides individualized attention for patients, helping them to optimize nutrition, physical activity, and medications.
There are Diabetes Education program sites at the Spartanburg Regional Outpatient Center and Pelham Medical Center. The team also partners with AccessHealth to conduct group education and support sessions. Madison Pate, CDCES, LISW-CP, leads the group once a month at AccessHealth.
"Madison provides a relaxed learning environment that makes it fun and easy to learn how to manage your diabetes,” said Diabetes Education program director Erica Moore. “The group is very interactive, so you have time to get your questions answered. Each person leaves the group with a personalized action plan to help them manage their diabetes at home."
If you are interested in learning more about Medical Group of the Carolinas - Diabetes Education services for diabetes, call 864-560-6419, ext. 5 or visit https://www.spartanburgregional.com/services/endocrinology/diabetes-education
Built with Shorthand