Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1499641
2 | Health Matters: Providence St. Mary Medical Center A s COVID-19 cases continue to fall and Providence St. Mary Medical Center begins to return to a sense of normalcy, we have entered an exciting moment of reconnection in the High Desert. As a result, we wanted this issue of Health Matters to serve as your reintroduction to health care at our hospital after three-plus years of a pandemic that, unfortunately, disconnected us from each other in one way or another. The stories you will find in these pages comprise some of the nuts and bolts related to navigating your health care experience. I like to think of them as educational pieces meant to ease your way should you need to visit Providence St. Mary in the future. Our stories about MyChart—an online tool that helps patients better manage their care—and when you should visit the emergency department versus an urgent care are of particular interest, and I hope you find them as informative as I have. We also have two stories that discuss preventive practices. In the first one, we explain how to minimize certain risk factors associated with stroke and go over several advances in the field. In the second, we share important tips that will help you protect yourself from skin cancer. We hope the advice helps you and your family prepare for outdoor activities, considering that summer is upon us. Now I would like to turn your attention to a story of hope that will resonate throughout our community. It centers on the scourge of human trafficking and Providence St. Mary 's efforts to help victims in the High Desert, many of whom are women and young children. The story involves an educational symposium organized by our caregivers, for our caregivers and the community. Thanks to our nursing educators and community partners—like the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and local nonprofit organizations—our caregivers know how to identify and compassionately connect with victims, as well as educate them on available resources. This is crucial work, and I am humbled by our ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking in the High Desert. I am so proud of the work I see day in and day out at Providence St. Mary. Whether clinical or non-clinical, everything we do is designed to ensure high-quality, empathetic care during a time that is often difficult for our patients and their loved ones. They come to us because they need our help, and we continually strive to meet their needs not only with skills and expertise, but with open hearts as well. Respectfully, Chief Executive Providence St. Mary Medical Center To Our Beloved Community