Inspire

1-year COVID Anniversary

The last year has been one for the history books. At Beacon, with each act of heroism, each tear that was shed and smile that was offered, each time an associate gave all they had and then found a way to give a little bit more, our teams showed their true colors, creating a better world for us all. From our darkest days when things seemed most bleak to our most joyful moments of healing and hope, we honor the Beacon teams who rose to the occasion, connected with heart and changed lives.

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Inside Elkhart General’s COVID-19 Unit

South Bend Tribune photographer Robert Franklin recently visited our Elkhart General COVID Unit to help us document this moment in our history. You will see powerful images in this gallery. The photographer focused his lens on the serious work we are doing to care for these very sick patients. At the…

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As we count down to 2021, we cannot let our guard down

By Kelly Jolliff, Infection Prevention and Emergency Preparedness Manager As we look to celebrate the New Year and say good-bye to the history making 2020, let us look back and reflect on what we have learned and how this can help keep us safe in the coming year. For many…

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Together forever: Husband and wife take their last breath within hours of each other

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Dawn Morehouse entered the hospital room and sat down beside a patient suffering from COVID. His chest X-rays showed his accompanying pneumonia was spreading and his oxygen levels were dropping so low he would soon require intubation. Knowing this, the patient said he decided to discontinue treatment. As a Memorial…

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Elkhart General RT describes “personal struggle of fortitude and perseverance”

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Randy Stouder has worked as a Respiratory Therapist for more than 40 years, including 19 years at Beacon. Since February, Randy has cared for COVID patients in the Emergency Room, Intermediate Critical Care, Medical floors and Intensive Care units at Elkhart General Hospital. “To accurately describe what is happening in…

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Final moments with a COVID patient: “I try to be their support until the end”

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Amber Hodges, an Elkhart General Hospital registered respiratory therapist, shares her perspective about caring for COVID patients who are about to die. "I honestly didn’t think this was going to be any worse than the flu. I just figured it was going to be something we could get under control…

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Elkhart General Hospital offers first look at COVID unit

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Beacon Health System hospitals continue to break records, and the surge of critically ill patients has required us to reassign staff and repurpose space within our facilities. We are offering a look at our COVID unit at Elkhart General Hospital to the public for the first time. Listen to and see the perspectives of our frontline doctors, nurses and staff through our Eye On Health partnership with WSBT.

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Elkhart General respiratory therapist describes joy, heartbreak, in caring for COVID patients

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Erin Fini, a certified respiratory therapist at Elkhart General Hospital, describes caring for COVID patients. "We have patients coming into the Elkhart General Emergency Department who are having trouble breathing by the carloads every day. We see patients who are young and old, patients who have preexisting conditions, and people…

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Beacon discharges 1,000th COVID-19 patient, a retired Elkhart elementary school teacher

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The staff at Elkhart General Hospital lined the hallway, cheering and applauding for a retired elementary school teacher. Bennie Payton, too, threw her arms up in the air after learning she was the 1,000th COVID patient to be discharged from Beacon Health System. “I’m truly blessed,” said Payton, 74, who…

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Faces masked, prayers raised: Hospital chaplains balance compassion with COVID realities

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  Rev. Sarah Samson, M.Div., BCC, Spiritual Care Coordinator at Memorial Hospital, offers her perspective about providing spiritual care to patients and their loved ones during the pandemic. When a patient comes in, when a traumatized family shows up, when things get sad or hard to cope with, chaplains help…

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