Although medicine can make you well, it also can harm you if it is not taken the right way. That’s why you need to know all you can about all the medicine you take. While you’re at Swain Community Hospital, the pharmacy staff is here to make sure that you receive the best and safest medications.
The mission of Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital is Making Communities Healthier. We are proud to partner with the communities of Jackson, Swain, Graham, and Macon counties, and the surrounding region, to achieve this mission. Our physicians, employees, volunteers, and board members work hard every day to provide the highest quality care possible for our community, collaborating with patients and family members, employers, community leaders and others to create a legacy of care that will last for generations to come.
It’s More Than a Month. Fight breast cancer and get peace of mind with an annual mammogram
September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness month and we want to share some lifesaving information with our community regarding preventive care and screenings that men need to know. As you will see in the included article, one out of every nine men in the U.S will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and although it is the second leading cause of cancer death among U.S men, it is treatable when detected early enough. Education is key is the prevention of prostate cancer so thank you for helping us share this information with our community.
September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness month. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-273-8255.
With summer drawing to a close, it will soon be time to focus on getting back into more “normal” routines. After-school practices, homework, carpool duties and the like become the order of the day once more. But there’s another routine that shouldn’t be ignored amid all of the excitement of a new school year – immunizations. August is National Immunization Awareness Month and serves as a great reminder of the important role that regular immunizations play in making communities healthier.
Swain Community Hospital is pleased to welcome certified nurse midwife Anne Karner to Harris Women’s Care. Karner has practiced in the region for the past eight years, delivering babies and caring for families from Jackson, Swain, and Macon counties.
Swain Community Hospital celebrated the health and fitness of Swain County Schools’ faculty and staff by presenting a wellness award for $5,000 at the schools’ annual end-of-year staff celebration at Swain County High School.
Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital are pleased to welcome Chelsea Burrell as wellness outreach coordinator for the hospitals. In her role, Burrell is responsible for designing wellness programs for the communities served by the hospitals. In addition, Burrell serves as the organization’s primary regional wellness liaison, interacting with local health departments, health advocacy groups, and local employers as the hospitals deliver on the mission of ‘Making Communities Healthier’.
Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital recently announced that Toby Moore has been recognized as the hospital’s 2018 Mercy Award winner. The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of LifePoint Health’s hospitals who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded.
The mission of Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital is Making Communities Healthier, and that starts with providing the highest quality care possible to you, our neighbors in this wonderful community we call home. A big part of delivering healthcare you can count on is creating positive experiences for our patients and their families – starting from the moment you walk through our doors.
Facilities celebrated for achievements in quality and operations
BRYSON CITY – Swain Community Hospital, in partnership with the American Red Cross, will host a blood drive 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, March 23. The blood drive will be held in the American Red Cross blood bus at the east end of the hospital.
Do you remember when you used to put on your favorite bell bottoms and disco dance the night away? If you do, then it’s probably time to think about a routine colonoscopy screening. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women, excluding skin cancers. And the vast majority of these cases occur in people 50 and older.
“You are what you eat.” We’ve all heard it, and many of us have jokingly used the common saying amongst one another. But there really is a kernel of truth there. Eating healthy can help us be healthy. There’s never a bad time to talk about healthy eating, but March is an especially good opportunity because it’s National Nutrition Month® – a time to focus on making smart food choices, establishing healthy eating habits and ensuring that we are doing what we can to reduce food waste
SYLVA, NC – Swain Community Hospital and Harris Regional Hospital continue to respond to the flu outbreak affecting the region. The rate of positive flu tests in one sample performed at the hospitals’ labs nearly doubled in 2018 compared to 2017.
SYLVA – Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital will hold a job fair from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 6 in the lobby of the new Harris Emergency Department, located at the front of Harris Regional Hospital.
BRYSON CITY – Swain Comprehensive Pain Services at Swain Community Hospital welcomes the community to tour the new center located on the east wing of the hospital. The open house will be held 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, February 1 at 45 Plateau St. on Hospital Hill. Light refreshments will be served.
Due to high levels of respiratory viruses in the community, Swain Community and Harris Regional Hospitals are implementing seasonal influenza precautions.
‘Tis the Season to Be Healthy: Maintaining your health amid the hustle and bustle of the season
Swain Community Hospital is pleased to welcome Daniel J. Schultz, licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), as the new therapist at the Senior Life Solutions program located on Hospital Hill. John Stoeckel, LCSW will retire later this year after being with the program since its opening in 2011.
BRYSON CITY – Swain Community Hospital will welcome Santa Claus to the main lobby 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, December 16th. Milk and cookies will be served. Everyone is invited to attend the event.
Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital will hold a job fair from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 30 in the lobby of the new Harris Emergency Department, located at the front of Harris Regional Hospital.
On November 1, open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace began. As you may recall, the Health Insurance Marketplace has been offering expanded access to low-cost healthcare coverage for people without health insurance, or for those who are interested in exploring more cost-effective alternatives to their current coverage, since its inception in 2013.
BRYSON CITY, NC and SYLVA – Swain Community Hospital and Harris Regional Hospital will hold community forums in Bryson City and Sylva to share updates on hospital services, expansions of services through the 2018 strategic plan, and results from the hospitals’ quality outcomes.
BRYSON CITY – Swain Community Hospital, in partnership with the American Red Cross, will host a blood drive 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, October 30. The blood drive will be held in the American Red Cross blood bus at the east end of the hospital.
After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. In fact, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. And with October designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this is a great time to bring attention to this disease. At Harris Regional Hospital we want all of the women in our community to understand their risk, be alert to the signs and symptoms and recognize the crucial role that healthy lifestyles and early detection play in fighting breast cancer.
SYLVA and BRYSON CITY -- The Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS) recently recognized Lee Ann Manthorne, DO, who serves as Chief of Medical Staff for Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital, and Steve Heatherly, CEO of Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital, each as a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS).
Swain Family Care is pleased to welcome Benjamin Gans, DO who will begin seeing patients October 2.
For many of us, September is a time for getting back into routines and looking forward to the cooler weather just around the corner. Unfortunately, September also means that flu season is right around the corner.
The radiology department of Swain Community Hospital launched the use of its new computed tomography (CT) scanner last month.
For months, news streams across the country have been filled with commentary about The Great American Solar Eclipse that will cross over 14 states in August. And for good reason. The natural phenomenon is rare in and of itself, requiring perfect alignment of the earth, moon, and sun, and, according to scientists, often occurs over water sources or other locations uninhabited by humans.
Nothing screams “back to school” like taking your kids for an annual physical or routine vaccinations. And while it may not be the brightest part of summer, pediatricians with Harris Regional and Swain Community hospitals says it’s essential.
Swain Community Hospital is pleased to welcome Jacob Mills, MD to provide pain management services to western North Carolina.
Swain Community Hospital recently partnered with Swain County employees to design a wellness program aimed at improved physical health.
Jamie Davis recognized for demonstrating compassion and unwavering commitment to helping others.
It’s probably no secret to anyone that, on average, women take a more proactive approach to their health than men do.
Staff caring for patients on Swain Community Hospital’s main nursing unit have been recognized with a Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award™.
Swain Specialty Clinic will hold an open house 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 11.Swain Specialty Clinic includes Harris GI Associates, Harris Women’s Care, and Harris Surgical Associates and recently expanded to a new space in the medical office building on the hospital campus on Hospital Hill.
Wash your hands. How many times have we heard that oft-repeated refrain over our lifetimes? Since we were children, we’ve been encouraged to wash our hands after playing outside, before eating, after using the restroom and any one of a number of other occasions.
Swain Community Hospital and Harris Regional Hospital have announced the spring sports physicals schedule in which physicians and staff provide free physicals to student athletes from around the region.
From urgent care centers to walk-in clinics, trips to the family doctor or emergency room visits – there are more healthcare options to choose from than ever before.
Swain Community Hospital, in partnership with the American Red Cross, will host a blood drive 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, April 10. The blood drive will be held in the American Red Cross blood bus at the east end of the hospital.
There’s a lot of debate about the risks and benefits of vaccination, but despite the noise, one thing remains clear: vaccines help prevent infectious diseases and save lives.
Contrary to recent reports, Swain Community Hospital has no plans to discontinue 24-hour emergency services. We know that these are vital services for our community, and ending them has never been a consideration for us.
Swain Community Hospital and Harris Regional Hospital earns Chest Pain Center Accreditation
BRYSON CITY, N.C. – Swain Community Hospital is pleased to announce the addition of a sleep lab to provide patients with local access to diagnostic tests to aid in the treatment of sleep disorders.
Swain Community and Harris Regional Hospitals have received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC), the accrediting arm of the American College of Cardiology. This comes as great news to our communities as Harris and Swain continue to stay committed to the needs of our community and having the education, skill set and awareness to care for higher acuity cardiac events.
Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S. In fact, according to the American Heart Association, one in four people die of heart disease every year. That’s why it’s important to play smart with your heart. And there are a couple of simple, practical things you can do to stay on top of your heart game.
BRYSON CITY – Swain Specialty Clinic, the longstanding group of specialty physician practices at Swain Community Hospital, has expanded to a new space in the medical office building on the hospital campus on Hospital Hill. Swain Specialty Clinic is located next to Senior Life Solutions and the outpatient physical therapy and rehabilitation office and Swain Pain Center.
FRANKLIN and BRYSON CITY – Harris Surgical Associates, a Duke LifePoint physician practice owned and operated by Harris Regional Hospital, is pleased to announce an expansion to Harris Regional Hospital Medical Park of Franklin and Swain Community Hospital, The expansion will provide patients access to pre-operative and post-operative appointments close to home.
Swain Community Hospital, in partnership with the American Red Cross, will host a blood drive 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, January 30. The blood drive will be held at the east end of the hospital.
Swain Community Hospital, a Duke LifePoint Hospital, has received the top score in the state on a key patient satisfaction measure.
The staff of Senior Life Solutions, an intensive outpatient program providing psychiatric services at Swain Community Hospital, will provide education to the community 8 a.m. to noon on Thursday, December 15 in the main lobby of Harris Regional Hospital and Thursday, December 22 in the main lobby of Swain Community Hospital.
Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital, both of which are part of Duke LifePoint Healthcare, were honored to host an October visit by Eugene Washington, MD, Chancellor for Health Affairs for Duke University and President and CEO of Duke University Health System.
The Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS) recently recognized Tiffany Brackett, Director of Quality and Regulatory for Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital, as a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS).
Swain Community Hospital is committed to delivering high-quality care close to home for the people of western North Carolina. To do this, we regularly evaluate our services to ensure that we are providing access to the care our community members need, when and where they need it.
From the turkey and dressing, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving to the delicious desserts, treats for Santa and eggnog at Christmas, the holidays are one of the hardest times of year to eat healthy.
Senior Life Solutions at Swain Community Hospital will offer a free community seminar titled ‘Surviving and Thriving During the Holiday Season’.
Harris Regional Hospital, a Duke LifePoint hospital, is pleased to welcome board-certified cardiologist Francis Nullet, MD, to the medical staff.
Swain Family Care is pleased to welcome certified physician assistant Angela Struna who began seeing patients this month. She joins Tammy Johnston, MD, David Johnston, MD, pediatrician Brooke Budde, DO, and certified physician assistant Vicki McCormack.
In 2016, more than 246,000 American women will develop invasive breast cancer – that’s one in eight women. They will become part of more than 2.8 million people who are living with a history of breast cancer, whether that means they are currently in treatment or have completed treatment. While breast cancer incidence rates have been declining since the year 2000, those numbers remain too high.
In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital will host events for the community and staff to celebrate the care the hospitals and outpatient facilities provide to the region.
The Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS) recently recognized Anetra Jones, chief nurse executive for Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital as a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS).
Recommendations to fight obesity are to limit screen time to less than 2 hours per day.
Western Carolina University, Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital today announced a five-year partnership for athletics stemming from The Ascent Partnership created last fall. With the agreement the hospitals become the exclusive healthcare provider for Catamount Athletics, covering all sports, athletes, and seasons.
Swain Family Care participated in Swain County Schools’ back-to-school health fairs held at East Elementary, West Elementary, Swain Middle School and Swain County High School.
Across the U.S., nearly 30 percent of children are overweight or obese – that’s one in every three kids. Here in western North Carolina we are slightly above the national average, and frankly, that’s way too high.
Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital are pleased to provide outpatient nutrition therapy and diabetes education at Harris Medical Associates, Swain Family Care, and Harris Family Care – Franklin.
The dog days of summer are coming to a close, and that means it’s time to get ready for the hustle and bustle of another school year – trading in Saturday afternoons at the pool for homework, ballgames and that seemingly never-ending to-do list around the house. As we countdown to the start of the new school year, Harris Regional and Swain Community Hospital’s want to offer five quick tips to help keep your family healthy and happy.
The summer season is in full swing, and that means camps, outdoor workouts and athletic practices, trips to parks or local waterways, and dozens of other fun outdoor activities for you and your family. It also means you need to watch out for one of Mother Nature’s most dangerous elements: HEAT.
Swain County Hospital will host an open house for Senior Life Solutions July 18 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Senior Life Solutions center located at 45 Plateau Street in Bryson City.
Asheville Cardiology Associates to close Sylva office - Harris Regional Hospital, a Duke LifePoint hospital, has announced plans to significantly expand cardiology services in Sylva, Jackson County, and the surrounding region with the addition of needed diagnostic, treatment, and monitoring services, as well as stress testing and echocardiography, seven days a week.
Now that school is out and summer has unofficially kicked off it’s a good idea to take a moment to understand the healthcare options available in our community should you or your family need care.
Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital are pleased to recognize National EMS Week May 15-21. The week was first set aside by President Gerald Ford in 1973 to honor the lifesaving work of EMS professionals around the country.
For one week every year, the nation’s healthcare leaders pause to celebrate and recognize the millions of healthcare professionals – from dieticians to physicians, administrative support to engineers – who make safe, high quality, compassionate healthcare available in communities across the country
During the month of May, the spring season is in full bloom, and summer is just around the corner. This time of year, many people begin to spend more time outside, enjoying longer daylight hours and abundant sunshine. While this might seem harmless, it’s important to take care of the skin you’re in and protect it from the sun’s damaging rays.
Swain Family Care is pleased to announce a walk-in clinic for pediatric patients 8 to 9 a.m. Monday through Thursday at the practice, located inside Swain Community Hospital, at 45 Plateau St. on Hospital Hill.
Across the country, there are millions of nurses united by a deep desire to care for others in their greatest times of need. They are the compassionate faces at the bedside and the healing hands that work tirelessly to ensure that each patient receives safe, quality care.
Sherri Watterson recognized for demonstrating compassion and unwavering commitment to helping others
You know what they say: April showers bring May flowers. But they also bring pollen, ragweed and a slew of other wheeze-, sneeze-, and sniffle-inducing allergens. At Harris Regional Hospital we’re committed to making communities healthier, and one way we do that is by helping you manage your springtime allergies.
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancers are the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the U.S. While more than 130,000 new cases of colon and rectal cancers are expected to be diagnosed in 2016, the overall incidence and death rates associated with this disease have been on the decline for more than a decade. Effective screening in the form of colonoscopies is the primary driver of these declines, which is why it is recommended that all men and women begin routine testing at the age of 50.
Zika is a disease caused by Zika virus that is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika.
Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital have successfully earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for hospital accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care.
When a heart attack strikes, every minute matters. In fact, the first few minutes are critical in determining the short-term and long-term outcome for the patient. According to the National Institutes of Health, of the people who die from heart attacks, about half will die within an hour of their first symptoms.
Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital are pleased to announce that pediatrician Brooke Budde, DO will join the physicians of Swain Family Care in serving the community with pediatric care for children ages 0 to 20.
On October 21, 2015 at around 16:14 Jackson County 911 Center received a call for a cardiac arrest at Ingles in Sylva. Upon EMS’ arrival they found a male subject lying on the floor in the care of a young lady.
Harris Regional Hospital will again this year provide resources for patients enrolling in the health insurance marketplaces by holding an Open Enrollment Event available to all members of the community looking to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace as mandated by the Affordable Care Act.
Take it one day at a time. Often, the anticipation of the holiday is worse than the actual holiday. Instead of spending the days leading up to the holiday worrying about how you will manage, find ways to keep your mind busy. Pick up a new book, try out a new hobby or take that painting class you’ve always wanted to try.
Sylva and Bryson City, North Carolina (July 22, 2015) – Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital, both Duke LifePoint hospitals, announced that their employed physician practices will feature new names that highlight their association with the hospitals. The name changes will also reflect their affiliation with Duke LifePoint Healthcare, as each practice will be labeled ‘A Duke LifePoint Physician Practice’.
Sylva, N.C. – LifePath Palliative Care and Hospice, which serves the communities of Harris Regional and Swain Community Hospitals, will hold a special memorial celebration entitled “Tree of Remembrance” on Friday, December 5 in the main lobby of Harris Regional Hospital at 6pm.
Sylva, N.C. – WestCare is pleased to welcome Ana Gonzalez, MD to Sylva Medical Center, who will begin seeing patients Monday, September 8.
Sylva, NC – Harris Medical Park will host a holiday open house with a special opportunity to meet and talk with physicians and mid-level providers on Tuesday, December 9 from 5 – 7pm.
Bryson City – Swain Community Hospital and Swain County Health Department are partnering to promote health and wellness in our communities by beginning a monthly Lunch and Learn Series. The first one will be held Thursday, December 18th from noon to 12:30 pm.
Sylva, NC – Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital are continuing to remind individuals without health insurance coverage that the national Health Insurance Marketplace is currently open for enrollment and re-enrollment. For those wishing to have coverage begin or continue starting January 1, 2015, the enrollment or re-enrollment deadline is Monday, December 15.
Sylva, NC – Harris Regional Hospital will host a wellness education event centered around healthy eating and living a fit lifestyle on Tuesday, January 6 from 6-7pm in the main lobby at Harris Regional Hospital. The event is part of a year-long series of wellness events held in partnership with Jackson County Department of Public Health the first Tuesday of each month.
Sylva, NC – The Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) has awarded accreditation to the laboratories at Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital based on results of a recent on-site inspection as part of the CAP’s Accreditation Programs.
Sylva & Bryson City, NC – Due to the rising number of flu cases in our surrounding communities and facilities, Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital have begun limiting visitors to the hospitals in order to reduce the risk of transmitting the flu to our patients, visitors, and staff. Restrictions will apply to visitors 12 years old and under and any visitor with symptoms of respiratory illness (fever, cough, sore throat, etc.).
Sylva & Bryson City, NC – Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital will host free events in Sylva and Bryson City in January providing education on the National Health Insurance Marketplace and offering free assistance to those wishing to sign up for coverage through the Marketplace.
The physicians of Mountain Regional OB/GYN are pleased to expand services to Bryson City and Franklin, providing a convenient option for women seeking obstetrical and gynecological care in the communities where they live.
Harris Regional Hospital was pleased to welcome twin girls Sangelina and Klarajane Hernandez on Friday, January 2, the first babies born at the hospital in 2015.
