United Way of Virginia's Blue Ridge awards LewisGale Medical Center $25,000 grant
'LewisGale Medical Center has been a longstanding partner of the United Way and we are grateful for the donation from the HCA Healthcare Foundation as we continue working together toward sustainable, long-term community health and well-being,' said Cheryl Mosley, vice president of Community Impact. 'These funds will help us create a legacy of healthier, more accessible communities where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.'
(Photo Credit: LewisGale Regional Health System | HCA Healthcare's Christopher Finley, associate vice president of community engagement, presented a ceremonial check to the United Way of Virginia's Blue Ridge. From left: Abby Hamilton, UWVBR president and CEO; Leigh Gathings, LewisGale Regional Health System Behavioral Health vice president; Christopher Finley, HCA Healthcare associate vice president of community engagement; Shayne Dwyer, LewisGale Regional Health System manager of communications and community engagement; Cheryl Mosley, UWVBR vice president of Community Impact; and Teresa Hamilton Hall, LewisGale Regional Health System director of communications and community engagement.)
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LewisGale said the funding will be used to facilitate health career options, address critical community health needs, and enhance three priority initiatives at the Healthy Roanoke Valley Community Resource Hub, the Behavioral Health Academy, and healthcare career pathways.
This funding will directly support the regional impact of United Way of Virginia's Blue Ridge Community Resource Hub by providing essential training, professional development opportunities, and empowerment programs for those interested in pursuing medical careers. It will also help raise awareness and advocacy for the important work that community health workers do to improve health access across our communities.
The grant is part of the $75 million HCA Healthcare Foundation's Healthier Tomorrow Fund, which supports innovative initiatives committed to addressing high-priority community needs and health access.
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The HCA Healthcare Foundation promotes health and well-being and strives to provide positive community impacts in leadership, service, and financial support to effective nonprofit organizations.
'United Way of Virginia's Blue Ridge shares our commitment to transforming the future of community health by expanding access and building pathways to rewarding healthcare careers,' said Collin McLaughlin, chief executive officer of LewisGale Medical Center. 'Collectively, we'll address gaps in mental wellness, healthcare access, and workforce readiness.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Associated Press
01-05-2025
- Associated Press
Know the stroke signs and save lives this American Stroke Month
( NewMediaWire ) - May 01, 2025 - DALLAS — Every year, approximately 800,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke [1], however, as many as 80% may be preventable with healthy lifestyle changes and screening for risk factors [2]. During May, American Stroke Month, the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, is raising awareness nationwide that stroke is largely preventable, treatable and beatable. A stroke can happen to anyone, even young people. Know the stroke signs, risk factors and how to protect yourself: A stroke happens when normal blood flow in the brain is interrupted. When parts of the brain don't get the oxygen-rich blood they need, those cells die. Quick identification and treatment of stroke improves the chances of survival and recovery. Learn the warning signs Stroke is an emergency. If someone is having a stroke, they must get medical attention right away. Use the acronym F.A.S.T. to identify the most common signs of stroke: Take steps to prevent stroke Black and Hispanic adults in the U.S. face disproportionately higher stroke risk, driven in part by higher rates of high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes [3], as well as socioeconomic factors that impact access to care and prevention [4]. A large majority of strokes can be prevented: Stroke recovery Those who have had a stroke often must work against physical, emotional and cognitive changes to move forward. Stroke survivors and caregivers can track their health journey, medications and receive trusted information about stroke with the Heart & Stroke Helper app. This American Stroke Month, take action and inspire change by learning the signs of a stroke and talking to your health care team to manage your risk factors. Together, we can change the future of health and transform lives. Learn more at The HCA Healthcare Foundation is a national sponsor of the American Stroke Association's Together to End Stroke(R) initiative and American Stroke Month. ### Additional resources: About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public's health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. About the American Stroke Association The American Stroke Association is a relentless force for a world with fewer strokes and longer, healthier lives. We team with millions of volunteers and donors to ensure equitable health and stroke care in all communities. We work to prevent, treat and beat stroke by funding innovative research, fighting for the public's health, and providing lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based association was created in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit Follow us on Facebook and X. For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173 Darcy Wallace: [email protected] For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) and [1]S S Martin; et al Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2025 Update: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association Circulation. 2025;151:e1–e620. DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001303 [2] [3] [4]E Reshetnyak; et al Impact of Multiple Social Determinants of Health on Incident of Stroke. Stroke. 2020;51:2445–2453 DOI:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.028530 [5]C Bushnell; et al 2024 Guideline for the Primary Prevention of Stroke: A Guideline From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke 2024;55:e344–e424. DOI: 10.1161/STR.0000000000000475 [6]S S Martin; et al Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2025 Update: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association Circulation. 2025;151:e1–e620. DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001303
Associated Press
30-01-2025
- Associated Press
Stroke warning sign acronyms drive 911 calls, F.A.S.T. leads in symptom recall for public
Research Highlights: Both F.A.S.T. and BE-FAST acronyms motivated people to call 911 right away for a possible stroke, and this impact lasted for 30 days. F.A.S.T. outperformed BE-FAST in the ability for people to remember key stroke warning signs (face, arm and speech), suggesting the additional letters of B and E hinder memory recall. Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association's scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as full manuscripts in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. This research was sponsored by the American Stroke Association with funding support from the HCA Healthcare Foundation. Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 ( NewMediaWire) - January 30, 2025 - DALLAS — When it comes to prompting people to call 911 at the first sign of stroke, both F.A.S.T. and BE-FAST stroke warning signs acronyms were equally effective. However, people remembered the key stroke warning signs (face, arm and speech) better with the F.A.S.T. acronym, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2025. The meeting is in Los Angeles, Feb. 5-7, 2025, and is a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health. Each year, approximately 800,000 people in the U.S. suffer a stroke, according to the American Heart Association's 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics. Immediate treatment may minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death. Awareness and recognition of stroke symptoms has improved over the last decade, yet more awareness is needed. Both F.A.S.T. (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) and BE-FAST (Balance, Eye, Face, Arm, Speech, Time) are acronyms used as health communication mnemonics to help a person remember important warning signs of stroke. The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, currently utilizes the F.A.S.T. acronym. Some hospital and health care systems across the country have switched from using F.A.S.T. to BE-FAST in their consumer-facing stroke educational efforts. The belief is that adding additional symptoms, loss of balance and vision, to the acronym would result in greater identification of posterior circulation strokes, which represent approximately 20% of ischemic strokes and tend to be more disabling. The Association convened a diverse group of researchers with expertise in stroke, epidemiology and market research to conduct a study, which focused on the general public, to assess whether F.A.S.T. or BE-FAST leads to better stroke symptom recall and whether either acronym is more likely to prompt calling 911. Assessments of stroke and symptom knowledge among the two acronym groups were taken at baseline, immediately after viewing a 1-minute educational video and 30 days later. 'This research was unique in that it blends health care terminology, methods and randomized approaches to identify how we can most effectively deliver messages to the public in a way that will allow us to reduce the burden of stroke,' said study lead author Opeolu Adeoye, M.D., M.S., FAHA, American Heart/Stroke Association volunteer and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. 'Historically, health care professionals want to provide the most comprehensive warning sign mnemonic to ensure no strokes are missed. What this research shows is, from a public point of view, adding two extra letters made it more challenging to recall the stroke warning signs.' The study found: Immediately after the educational video: The likelihood of calling 911 if a stroke was suspected increased in both acronym groups from approximately 70% before the educational video (baseline) to 90% immediately after the video, with no significant difference between the groups. Participants' ability to identify what symptoms the common letters F, A and S represent was similar for both acronym groups at baseline (34% for F.A.S.T. group and 29% for BE-FAST group) and significantly higher immediately after the video for both acronym groups (70% for F.A.S.T. group and 50% for BE-FAST group). The F.A.S.T. acronym had a significantly greater increase in common letter recall than BE-FAST immediately after viewing the video. At 30 days: The likelihood of calling 911 declined slightly at 30 days post-video compared to immediately after the video in both groups (86% for F.A.S.T. group and 87% for BE-FAST group) yet remained significantly increased compared to baseline with no difference between the two acronym groups. Participants' ability to recall what symptoms the common letters F, A and S represent declined at 30 days post-video compared to immediately after the video for both groups (50% recall for F.A.S.T. group and 40% recall for BE-FAST group) yet remained significantly higher than at baseline. Again, F.A.S.T. had significantly higher common letter recall performance than BE-FAST after 30 days. 'It is critically important that there is a recognition of stroke signs and symptoms by the general public. The more people are aware of the stroke warning signs, the better we may activate the processes needed to ensure patients get care as quickly as possible,' Adeoye said. Study details, background or design: A nationally representative online survey of English-speaking participants was used for this experimental design. Study data collection was conducted April 1 – May 15, 2024. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two acronym groups, either F.A.S.T. or BE-FAST, and shown a corresponding 1-minute education video. Assessments were made immediately after video viewing (1,900 total participants) and again 30 days later (1,393 participants; 73% recontact completion rate). Statistical analysis included T-tests to compare group means and ANOVA tests to compare the multiple groups over multiple time points, to estimate differences between groups on intent to call 911 and stroke symptom knowledge at baseline, immediately after the education and at 30 days. Analyses were adjusted for age, stroke knowledge/experience, education level and baseline familiarity with the acronyms. Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract. This research was sponsored by the American Stroke Association with funding support from the HCA Healthcare Foundation. Statements and conclusions of studies that are presented at the American Heart Association's scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association's policy or position. Abstracts presented at the Association's scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, rather, they are curated by independent review panels and are considered based on the potential to add to the diversity of scientific issues and views discussed at the meeting. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers and the Association's overall financial information are available here. ### About the American Stroke Association The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke — the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit Facebook, X. For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Yahoo
United Way of Virginia's Blue Ridge awards LewisGale Medical Center $25,000 grant
SALEM, Va. (WFXR) — On Wednesday, January 29, LewisGale Medical Center announced a $25,000 grant awarded by the HCA Healthcare Foundation to United Way of Virginia's Blue Ridge. 'LewisGale Medical Center has been a longstanding partner of the United Way and we are grateful for the donation from the HCA Healthcare Foundation as we continue working together toward sustainable, long-term community health and well-being,' said Cheryl Mosley, vice president of Community Impact. 'These funds will help us create a legacy of healthier, more accessible communities where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.' (Photo Credit: LewisGale Regional Health System | HCA Healthcare's Christopher Finley, associate vice president of community engagement, presented a ceremonial check to the United Way of Virginia's Blue Ridge. From left: Abby Hamilton, UWVBR president and CEO; Leigh Gathings, LewisGale Regional Health System Behavioral Health vice president; Christopher Finley, HCA Healthcare associate vice president of community engagement; Shayne Dwyer, LewisGale Regional Health System manager of communications and community engagement; Cheryl Mosley, UWVBR vice president of Community Impact; and Teresa Hamilton Hall, LewisGale Regional Health System director of communications and community engagement.) LewisGale Medical Center welcomes new CEO LewisGale said the funding will be used to facilitate health career options, address critical community health needs, and enhance three priority initiatives at the Healthy Roanoke Valley Community Resource Hub, the Behavioral Health Academy, and healthcare career pathways. This funding will directly support the regional impact of United Way of Virginia's Blue Ridge Community Resource Hub by providing essential training, professional development opportunities, and empowerment programs for those interested in pursuing medical careers. It will also help raise awareness and advocacy for the important work that community health workers do to improve health access across our communities. The grant is part of the $75 million HCA Healthcare Foundation's Healthier Tomorrow Fund, which supports innovative initiatives committed to addressing high-priority community needs and health access. Carilion Clinic expands Midwifery services The HCA Healthcare Foundation promotes health and well-being and strives to provide positive community impacts in leadership, service, and financial support to effective nonprofit organizations. 'United Way of Virginia's Blue Ridge shares our commitment to transforming the future of community health by expanding access and building pathways to rewarding healthcare careers,' said Collin McLaughlin, chief executive officer of LewisGale Medical Center. 'Collectively, we'll address gaps in mental wellness, healthcare access, and workforce readiness.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
