JOIN US FOR A DEMENTIA EDUCATION SERIES IN FRANKLIN COUNTY

Hosted by: Dementia Care and Cure Initiative of the Big Bend, TMH Memory Disorder Clinic, Weems Memorial Hospital

When: Every Month

Where: Holy Family Senior Center, 203 7th Street, Apalachicola, FL 32320

This FREE series is open to everyone! No RSVP required.

Parking is available on the northeast side of the hospital.

What will be offered:

• GAIN a better understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
• LEARN about local resources in Franklin County available to assist persons with dementia, their families, and caregivers.

Check out our full list of sessions:

4/11/24
11 am – noon: “Accessing Local Community Supports and Services for Individuals Living with Dementia and their Caregivers” by Advantage Aging Solutions

5/9/24
11 am – noon: “State of Florida Goals, Services, Initiatives, and Resources” by Department of Elder Affairs

6/13/24
11 am – noon: “Strategies to Help Urgent Situations Involving Persons with Dementia” by FSU REACH

Have questions? Please contact Katie Desorcy, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Memory Disorder Clinic Coordinator at 850-431-5002.

Weems Medical Center West in Apalachicola is partnering with Chronic Disease Solutions to help make our patients’ lives healthier and more comfortable. Chronic care management is provided by nurses and trained care coordinators with the goal of improving patient outcomes and patient satisfaction. 

Below are just some of the benefits: 

• Improved quality of health with a reduction to the cost for healthcare services.
• Coordination of care with community and home-based clinical service providers, such as durable medical equipment, nutrition services, outpatient therapies, transportation services, etc.
• Assistance with care transition between health care providers, hospitals, specialty clinics, surgery centers, etc.
• Follow up care coordination after ER visits, hospital discharges, nursing homes, and other facilities.
• Cost effective measures for medications as well as evaluations of medication effectiveness.
• A comprehensive care plan assessment for cognitive, functional, physical, psychosocial, and environmental health issues.
• 24/7 access to care coordination services.

If you have Medicare and your doctor treats you for two (2) or more conditions on a regular basis, then you may qualify for the Chronic Care Management program. For more information visit the Chronic Disease Solutions website at www.chronicdiseasesolutions.com or call a care coordinator today at 850-273-4090 or toll free 844-920-9385.

Local access to mammograms is now possible in Franklin County through new services offered at Weems Memorial Hospital (WMH). An open house for the new mammography room was hosted Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024.

“This was a great opportunity for us to create access to care and provide a much-needed service to our community,” said WMH CEO David Walker. “Until now, individuals would have to travel up to 60 miles for a mammogram, but now this service is available right here at home.”

The addition of mammography services and equipment were made possible through a USDA Rural Development Health Care grant for $258,500 with a match of $137,250 provided by Franklin Needs, Inc., a local nonprofit organization that helps fund breast cancer support services for Franklin County residents. Franklin Needs president Jessica Sparks said that in addition to the donation for the mammography equipment, the group is committed to helping cover ongoing costs associated with the equipment and services. “We’re not a big community but when we come together, we do big things,” she said.

More than 60 mammograms have been done so far at WMH, and that number is growing. The GE Senographe Pristina 3D Mammography System provides outstanding detail and superior diagnostic accuracy with state-of-the-art 2D and 3D capabilities that can be done with or without contrast.

“Oftentimes major roadblocks to successful cancer treatment are access to care and early detection,” said Patrick Conrad, MD. “Adding this capability locally removes a major barrier to access and can save lives.” 

Weems Memorial board chair Duffie Harrison commended all involved. “This is a true joint effort, and we sincerely appreciate the partnership and support of Franklin Needs, USDA and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners.”

To schedule a mammogram at Weems Memorial, call 850 653-8853 Ext. 1190.

Franklin Needs is a non-profit organization committed to providing free mammograms and help with qualifying expenses for under-insured and uninsured residents of Franklin County, Fla.  For more information or to inquire about assistance call (678) 772-7304 or visit their website www.franklinneeds.com.