Baptist Union County hosts free luncheon in conjunction with National Diabetes Month

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County will host a free luncheon, open to the public, which aims to raise awareness of diabetes prevention and management, especially how to make healthy lifestyle choices.

The luncheon will take place on Thursday, November 21^stat noon at the Union County Heritage Museum, which is located at 114 Cleveland Street, New Albany.   Dr. Paige Tomsic, an internal medicine and pediatric physician, is the featured speaker.

Although the luncheon and program are free, pre-registration is required due to limited seating. Those interested in attending may reserve a space by calling 662-538-2613.

According to the Mississippi Department of Health, 300,000 Mississippians have diabetes, and 1 in 7 will develop it.  Mississippi ranks third in the nation for diabetes cases.

“Baptist Union County wants to serve as a resource for helping improve the overall health of this community,” said James Grantham, CEO and administrator of the hospital.  “Educational programs such as the Diabetes Awareness Luncheon are a great opportunity to learn about early signs, symptoms, and management.”

In addition to the Diabetes Awareness Luncheon, Baptist Union County offers free monthly diabetes classes.

Baptist Union County offers a variety of services, including adult and pediatric inpatient care, maternity, surgery, a 24-hour emergency department and diagnostics. The hospital also has 3D mammography, TeleHealth services and an eICU. Baptist Union County has an excellent reputation for providing quality care and recently earned an “A” Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group and Outstanding Patient Experience and Patient Safety Excellence awards from Healthgrades. Most notably, Baptist Union County became the first hospital in Mississippi to earn five stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the hospital’s quality, outcomes, safety and patient satisfaction. The Chartis Center for Rural Health also recognized the hospital as one of the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in the country.