The Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital Gift Shop recently celebrated a Grand Opening for staff and the community. The kick-off celebration included a ribbon cutting by Kristie Williams, hospital Vice President, and Peggy Sowers, Senior Director of Carilion Guest and Volunteer Services. The Giles Gift Shop will be operated and managed by Carilion Retail Gift Shop staff who also run gift shops at Roanoke Memorial Hospital and New River Valley Medical Center.

This past Tuesday, the Gynecologic Oncology team reached an inspiring milestone by enrolling the very first patient in a nationwide research study. This moment represents hope, progress, and a new path forward for our patient.

I want to extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this achievement possible: Clinical Research Coordinators: Katie Church and Anna Derrick, Pharmacists, Allyson Cuddy and Megan Lumsden, Infusion Nurses: Lydia Prieur and Anne Cattigan, and Drs. Armbruster and Saks.

"'Twas the night before Christmas, in the hospital ward, Not a patient was stirring, not even a snore.

The IV bags were hung by the tree with great care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The nurses were nestled all snug at their station, Dreaming of holidays and brief vacation.

And doctors in lab coats, with charts piled high, Had just settled down with a weary sigh.

When out in the hallway arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

We’re pleased to announce that Connette Gill, MBA, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CPPS, has joined Carilion Medical Center as our new CMC Assistant Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO), effective Dec. 1.

This role is essential in supporting the Chief Nursing Officer and strengthening the overall administration, coordination and advancement of nursing services across CMC. Connette will help lead and elevate our work as we continue delivering exceptional, patient-centered care.

We are thrilled to recognize Melissa Phipps, RN, and Brianna Hall, RN, for their incredible attention to detail and unwavering commitment to patient safety!

During a preprocedural timeout, Melissa and Brittany identified a critical discrepancy in surgical laterality. While documentation indicated a right-sided procedure, the patient reported the surgery was intended for the left side. Both nurses acted immediately, escalating the concern to the surgical team, OR staff, and nursing leadership—preventing a potential wrong-site surgery.

To support families in need, the Technology Servies Group/Health Analytics team (TSG/HA) held a food drive, collecting and distributing non-perishable items to food banks across Carilion’s service areas. What a great way for employees to live our mission of improving the health of the communities we serve.

Martinsville Family & Internal Medicine Rural Health Day

It is Antibiotic Awareness Week and our Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Team has been on the move. They are visiting ambulatory practices across the system and delivering donuts as a sweet “thank you” for everyone’s hard work in optimizing antimicrobial use! Practices included Family Community Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Velocity Cares spanning across the region.  

The CRMH stroke program was invited to perform mock stroke alerts at CFMH (ED and ICU) on 11/13.  This was a successful, engaging, learning activity that was well perceived by the staff.  The patient scenario was performed in the fashion of, Red light, Green light with flags. Informative stroke questions were given to the staff continuously through the alert.  Right answer: Green Flag.  Incorrect answer: Red flag, stop and discuss.

CVI Star Quality Award: Thank you to this team for helping identify delays and challenges related to patient access to CST PACU and CST 6 OPS. Their responsiveness, problem-solving, and commitment to improving patient’s arriving to the preop areas made a difference in the admission process. We appreciate the way they have collaborate across departments and kept patient care at the center of everything.

PACU: Unit Director Lindsay Day, RN, Bradley Fisk, RN, Dorothy Pannell, CA

6 CST OPS: Unit Director Angela Kincer, RN, Erin Dickerson, RN, Emilie Rothgeb, RN, Kayla Duncan, RN