Clark Regional Medical Center is proud to join the American Nurses Association (ANA) in celebrating National Nurses Month this May, in an expanded recognition of the positive impact our nurses have on the health and well-being of our community. National Nurses Week – observed annually May 6-12 – honors the men and women around the country who have dedicated their lives to caring for those who are at their most vulnerable and in need. This year, as the invaluable contributions of nurses have gained increased awareness amid the fight against COVID-19, that celebration is being extended into a National Nurses Month.
 
“Our heroic nurses are always on the front lines of caring for the sick and injured,” said Barbara Kinder, chief clinical officer of Clark Regional Medical Center. “Their compassion, clinical expertise and servant leadership are fundamental to our ability to provide the high-quality care our patients have come to rely on. I am so proud to celebrate and honor their hard work – and not just during Nurses Month, but year-round. Their impact is an essential part of our mission of Making Communities Healthier.”
 
The roots of National Nurses Week can be traced back to 1953, when U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare employee Dorothy Sutherland suggested a national day of recognition for nurses. After a series of proclamations and resolutions through the decades, the American Nurses Association affirmed a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress by establishing May 6 as National Nurses Day in 1982. The ANA expanded the celebration to a week in 1991 and, in 1993, designated May 6-12 as the permanent annual dates to mark National Nurses Week.
 
In addition to this year’s expanded, month-long observance, the World Health Organization (WHO) has also declared 2020 as the Year of the Nurse. It is another well-deserved recognition for a group of professionals that could not have come at a more appropriate time.

The community will notice apricot bows around the facility. The Kentucky Nurses Association has launched the Apricot Ribbon Campaign to support nurses in a unique way that honors social distancing while lifting spirits. The color of the ribbon chosen has significance. Apricot serves as the color of nursing and displays optimism and warmth. These are visible reminders of the tireless efforts and dedication demonstrated by our nurses and all front line healthcare workers.​

“By their very nature, nurses are special people who are committed to selflessly serving and caring for others no matter the circumstance,” Kinder says. “During our fight against COVID-19, our nurses have truly stepped up and are making countless sacrifices daily to ensure the safety of patients and each other, and to help protect our community. They are heroes in every sense of the word.”
 
Clark Regional Medical Center is encouraging our community members to leave their own special note of thanks at www.thankahealthcarehero.com.
 
About Clark Regional Medical Center
Clark Regional Medical Center, part of LifePoint Health®, provides high-quality healthcare services in the east Central Kentucky region and is dedicated to Making Communities Healthier®. A 79-bed, acute care facility, Clark Regional Medical Center offers a wide range of both inpatient and outpatient services, including emergency medicine, cardiology, general surgery, oncology/hematology, orthopedics, radiology, rehabilitation services, transitional care, women’s services, women’s imaging (including 3D mammography) and wound care. The hospital has been recognized for its commitment to quality care and patient safety by national organizations such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American College of Cardiology (Chest Pain Center accreditation), American College of Radiology, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety and the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. Additionally, Clark Regional Medical Center has earned designation as a LifePoint Health National Quality Leader for its ongoing efforts to transform its culture of safety and achieve high standards of quality care, performance improvement and patient engagement. For more information about Clark Regional Medical Center, please call 859-745-3500 or visit ClarkRegional.org. For more information about LifePoint Health, visit www.LifePointHealth.net.

We had the distinct pleasure of hosting Kevin Dalton and Tommy Cate of Kevin Dalton and the Tuesday Blooms back in January. Kevin and Tommy spoke with us about the music, the shows and the need for Tuesday Blooms merchandise! It was a great time and a great show as we revisited their appearance at the Steam Engine and did some foot stomping along with their live performance. Enjoy the full show below and be sure to find Kevin and the Tuesday Blooms on social media. When this dreaded quarantine is over, you MUST see them in concert! (and ask about shirts :-)
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On Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/radioangels/ 

​Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Department of Highways District 10
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2020

Contact: H.B. Elkins
606-666-8841 (switchboard)
606-693-5458 (direct)
HB.Elkins@ky.gov

Public meeting for proposed transportation improvements to KY 213 in Powell County cancelled
 

JACKSON, Ky.  – The public informational meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 19 in Stanton to discuss a proposed KY 213 transportation project has been cancelled. 

On March 6, Gov. Andy Beshear issued Executive Order 2020-215, declaring a state of emergency regarding COVID-19. In an effort to support the welfare and health of the residents of the Commonwealth, the meeting will be rescheduled.

For immediate release​:

Contact:    
Bridget Foster                                                                                                     
Clark Regional Medical Center                                                       
Director, Marketing and Communications
502-370-5597
Bridget.Foster@LPNT.net
COVID-19: What Clark Regional Medical Center is Doing and What You Can Do
It probably feels as if coronavirus – or as it is officially known, COVID-19 – is all anyone is talking about these days. As COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses like the seasonal flu continue to spread across the U.S., you also may feel a certain level of concern over how this disease could affect you or your loved ones, or if your local healthcare provider is prepared to respond to any local cases that may arise. That’s certainly understandable and natural. We want to provide you with essential information outlining what we are doing to stay prepared and offer you guidance on what you can do to help protect yourself, your family and our community.
What we are doing
Clark Regional Medical Center (CRMC) is committed to providing the highest quality care and ensuring the safety of our patients, employees, providers, volunteers and visitors at all times. While COVID-19 is new, effectively responding to other infectious diseases is not. We have tested processes and plans in place to respond to situations involving infectious disease year-round. Here is what we are doing to stay ready and effectively respond to COVID-19:
·       We continue to work closely with the Clark County Health Department, Kentucky Department of Public Health, and follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure that we are prepared with appropriate plans to detect, protect and respond should anyone in our community contract or be exposed to COVID-19.
·       We have a robust emergency operations plan in place and are reviewing and proactively completing a number of preparation checklists out of an abundance of caution.
·       We have hand hygiene products easily accessible throughout our facility.
·       We are screening patients in our emergency department, inpatient units and outpatient clinics based on CDC guidance.
·       Staff treating a potential COVID-19 case are provided with all appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to help prevent exposure.
·       Patients with respiratory or COVID-19-related symptoms are immediately provided masks to wear to help prevent exposure to others.
·       In the event that we identify a potential COVID-19 case, we will follow all CDC guidelines for placing that individual in isolation for their care and for the protection of other patients, employees and visitors.
·       We have implemented visitor restrictions at our facility as follows:
o   People with fever, cough, sore throat or other flu-like symptoms are not permitted to visit unless you are seeking care.
o   People who have traveled to a high-risk area for COVID-19 or had contact with a person known to be infected with COVID-19 are not permitted to visit
o   In accordance with guidance from the Kentucky Department of Public health (KDPH), we are also restricting all visitors from entering our transitional care unit unless they are visiting an individual receiving end-of-life care.
These measures are in place to protect our facility and our community. Please know that our providers and clinical teams are well-trained and prepared to manage outbreaks of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, seasonal flu and other respiratory illnesses.
CRMC follows guidance from our local health department, the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding precautions and testing. We recommend the public continue to follow these trusted sources for the latest information.
What you can do
It’s easy to feel helpless when faced with a barrage of news reports and social media updates regarding COVID-19. The good news is that there are some key steps you can take to help protect you and your loved ones and help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19:
·       Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
·       Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth
·       Staying home when you are sick
·       Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in the trash
·       Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces, including your phone, computer, remote controls and doorknobs
·       Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
·       Using an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not readily available (Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty)
·       Practicing social distancing behaviors, including working from home, avoiding public gatherings and unnecessary travel, and maintaining a distance of approximately six feet from others when possible.
What to do if you are experiencing symptoms
First and foremost - if you are having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or go directly to the Emergency Room. If possible, notify the dispatch agent that your emergency involves symptoms possibly related to COVID-19. 
For non-emergency needs, if you need medical attention due to respiratory illness symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) and plan to visit our hospital, your primary care provider or an urgent clinic, please call the Kentucky Department of Public Health COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-722-5725 before you go and let them know that you are experiencing symptoms that may possibly be related to COVID-19. This will allow providers to properly prepare for your visit and take the necessary precautions to keep others from being infected or exposed.
Please be reassured that our number one priority is the health and well-being of our community – and that includes you. We are prepared to manage an outbreak of respiratory illness, and we encourage you to follow the guidance above and stay tuned to updates from the CDC to help protect you and your loved ones. Keeping our community healthy is a community effort, and we are committed to doing everything we can to keep our community healthy today and for generations to come.
For more information and to stay abreast of the latest updates on COVID-19, you can visit https://www.ClarkRegional.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Preparedness-Information and www.cdc.gov.

Kentucky native Kelvin Damrell, the newest and youngest member of the world renowned Bluegrass band, The Steeldrivers, stopped by recently to visit with Bluegrass Breakout. He talked to us about what it was like to join such a well-established band and the hard work he's investing in his musicianship and vocals to make the most of the opportunity. Kelvin also talked about his personal song-writing, trying to support and help his wife parent while on the road with the band and he gave us some behind the music scene stories that are sure to make you smile! Kelvin rocked our studio with his solo version of some of our favorite Steeldrivers' songs. Check out the podcast below and be sure to grab a copy of The Steeldrivers latest project: Bad For You
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We had a wonderful time in studio with Sasha Colette of Olive Hill, Kentucky. She is an enormously talented singer, musician and songwriter. 
We were first introduced to Sasha at the Gateway Regional Arts Center last year during their Woodsongs Coffee House Hour and had been playing her songs ever since. It was quite an honor to talk with Sasha about her roots, her journey and growth while making music and starting a family and about her insights on music. She was kind enough to share even more of her great original tunes with us, so if you missed the interview and studio session when it aired live, here it is in its entirety.
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She's well known in Kentucky music circles and beyond as an artist, an advocate, a teacher and promoter. What many people don't know about Jen Tackett is her passion for Kentucky farmers and agriculture and how that passion connects with her zeal for music.

Jen graciously accepted our invitation to Guest Co-host Bluegrass Breakout with Angela where she talked about her background, her music and her work with 4-H. She even shared two of her original songs with our live audience from the band room of our new Irvine studio. 

Jen is a GEM and we can't wait to have her back to update us on her work and sing more of her story songs for us!

Follow Jen on Instagram www.instagram.com/jentackettmusic/?hl=en

Jen's Soundcloud soundcloud.com/jen-tackett

Click on the player or file below to hear the entire show. 

Appalachian singer songwriter musician and story teller, Derek Spencer was the featured artist during the  Woodsongs Coffee House Hour July concert. The concert series is hosted by the Gateway Regional Arts Center in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky and is the perfect intimate venue to enjoy local music and have a peek at the inspiration and process behind the songs. 
Derek wowed the crowd with his original song stories and he shared with the audience the connection those stories have to his life in Eastern Kentucky. Give the show a listen, the player and download link are posted below. And check out Derek's website for tour dates and more. 

Derek Spencer Website: ​ www.derekspencermusic.com
Derek on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/derekspencermusic/