Candler Hospital

10/30/2026

Trick or treat! St. Joseph's/Candler co-workers were ready and waiting with buckets of goodies for the annual procession of students from The Children’s House.

The kids and teachers brightened our day with their smiles and adorable costumes.

We wish everyone a safe and sweet Halloween tomorrow! 🎃

10/30/2026

Do you have a muscle that is constantly tight? Maybe you suffer from frequent migraines or TMJ.

Then there’s a unique form of physical therapy that you should know about. It’s called dry needle therapy, and it’s one of the many treatments offered at St. Joseph’s/Candler Outpatient Rehabilitation.

“Dry needling, along with therapeutic exercise and education, can ultimately improve a patient’s quality of life,” says Ansley Rodriguez, St. Joseph’s/Candler physical therapist and certified in dry needle therapy.

What does it feel like? Rodriguez explains in the link.

10/29/2026

St. Joseph's/Candler’s FREE Lung Cancer Screening Day is back!

📅Call 912-819-7515 to schedule your free lung cancer screening on Saturday, November 14 at one of three locations in Savannah, Pooler and Bluffton. Or, submit a message online at sjchs.org/lung. Both options will connect patients with the St. Joseph's/Candler Lung Cancer Coordinator.

Appointment spots are limited. Patients must meet the following eligibility criteria to qualify:

✅ 50-80 years of age
✅ Smoke an equivalent of 20 pack years (A single “pack year” is equal to smoking one pack per day for one year)
✅ Current smoker or quit less than 15 years ago
✅ Family history of lung cancer

For both men and women, lung cancer is the second most common cancer (not including skin cancer). Yet, a November 2025 Journal of American Medical Association study found that only 1 in 5 eligible adults get lung cancer screenings.

Earlier lung cancer detection leads to higher survival rates. The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 230,000 new cases of lung cancer have been or will be diagnosed in 2026. Of those cases, approximately 125,000 people will succumb to lung cancer this year.

10/27/2026

St. Joseph’s/Candler marked our 18th Annual Mammography Day today! 🎀

Technologists and co-workers who provide life-saving imaging services across our various locations stepped out in pink as they helped more than 200 women (we're still tallying the total) across the region get their annual screening mammograms and other breast imaging services.

Locations included:
📍Telfair Pavilion at Candler Hospital
📍St. Joseph's/Candler Imaging Center – Pooler Campus
📍Candler Hospital MRI (for breast surgery patients)
📍 Telfair Breast Imaging Center - Eisenhower Drive
📍 St. Joseph's/Candler Imaging Center – Bluffton
📍 Mobile Mammography Unit stationed outside of Chatham County Department of Health, Midtown

📲Are you due for a mammogram? Schedule yours today by calling 912-819-PINK.

10/27/2026

Heel pain can affect both men and women, but women tend to be the ones who seek specialized care from a podiatrist.

This is only partially explained by the statistics that show women generally go to a doctor earlier and more often than men. There are also biological and lifestyle factors.

“Many of my patients are middle-aged women who experienced weight gain during their pregnancy and now have an increased load on their feet,” explains Prianka Sharma, DPM, of St. Joseph’s/Candler Physician Network – Podiatry. “I can attest to this personally. I never had plantar fasciitis until I was pregnant.”

Most people can recover without surgery. Dr. Sharma explains how at the link.

https://www.sjchs.org/resource-hub/smart-living-magazine/september-october-2026/heel-pain

10/26/2026

How much do you understand about menopause symptoms?

Join us at the African American Health Information and Resource Center, 1910 Abercorn Street, for straight talk on menopause, Thursday, October 29 at 6 p.m.. This a free event includes snacks and a drawing for prizes.

10/24/2026

Almost all of us know someone who’s had breast cancer. In fact, about 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime.

Just this year alone, the American Cancer Society estimates more than 310,700 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.

On a positive note, death rates from breast cancer have been dropping since 1989, according to the ACS. Researchers believe that’s due to early detection through screening and increased awareness.

“Mammography is still the gold standard for detecting breast cancer,” says Pattie Barnes, staff mammographer at St. Joseph’s Hospital. “Even if you don’t have a family history, even if you don’t have dense breasts, come for your screening mammogram when age appropriate because it is so vitally important.”

How small of a tumor can a mammogram detect? Barnes answers at https://www.sjchs.org/resource-hub/blogs/blog-detail/living-smart-blog/2024/10/22/life-saving-technology-schedule-your-mammogram-today

10/23/2026

There are many conditions that may lead you to seek breast care. Often these are revealed to be non-cancerous.

Some of the most common include simple breast cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs, and fibroadenomas, which are benign tumors made up of glandular and connective tissue. Fibroadenomas most often occur in younger women. Both of these conditions may feel like a lump in the breast.

Some conditions are found through biopsy, such as atypical hyperplasia, which is an accumulation of abnormal but non-cancerous cells within either the duct or lobules of breast tissue. This is a benign finding, but is usually removed by a surgeon at Telfair Breast Surgery due to the potential of increasing one’s risk of developing breast cancer.

"It’s natural to be worried when we ask for additional imaging or a biopsy," says Robin McMichael, RN, BSN, CNBN, Clinical Coordinator at the Telfair Pavilion.

"We do our best to try to alleviate a patient’s concerns by explaining that many findings are benign and not life-threatening. And the sooner we can definitively diagnose something as benign or malignant, the sooner we can begin the best treatment for you."

📱Need to schedule a screening mammogram? Call 912-819-PINK.

10/23/2026

For the second year in a row, St. Joseph’s/Candler, Savannah Morning News, and WSAV along with the City of Savannah painted City Hall Pink.

Pictured are St. Joseph's/Candler CEO Paul P. Hinchey, Mayor Van Johnson, WSAV Tina Tyus-Shaw, WSAV News 3 On Your Side Vice President and General Manager David Hart, Savannah Morning News & SavannahNow.com executive editor Jill Nevels-Haun and St. Joseph's/Candler breast cancer survivors.

10/21/2026

Some women call it “scanxiety”—the fear that takes over when you get a mammogram callback.

But, thanks to 3D mammography, the number of callbacks is smaller than it once was.

“In the past, mammography meant getting two views of each breast in flat, compressed images,” explains radiologist Dil Patel, MD, of Savannah Chatham Imaging. Dr. Patel serves as Medical Director of St. Joseph’s/Candler’s Telfair Pavilion.

“Overlapping breast tissue could sometimes look like a mass, so then the patient would be called back for additional imaging.”

Dr. Patel explains in the link how mammography is improving.

10/02/2026

2,000 robotic bronchoscopy cases performed! 🎉🙌🎈

For years, the Candler Hospital bronchoscopy has been providing the most advanced and minimally-invasive lung procedures for our patients so they more easily can get back to their lives.

Dr. Douglas Mullins is the leader in the region for using the MONARCH Platform for robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, which creates significantly reduced patient recovery times by cutting out very tiny cancerous and pre-cancerous nodules from lung tissue, which would not have been possible even a few years ago.

This week, Dr. Mullins and the bronchoscopy team performed their 2,000th robotic-assisted bronchoscopy. Congratulations on your hard work and dedication to providing world-class patient care!

09/14/2026

When your child wakes up feeling under the weather on a day packed with important meetings or work, it can throw your entire schedule into chaos.

That’s where Bearly Sick comes in—a dedicated childcare program designed for children with mild illnesses, ages three months to 14 years.

At Bearly Sick, your child will receive exceptional care from our certified Patient Care Technicians in a safe and supportive environment. You can focus on work peacefully, knowing they’re in the best hands.

Save this link in your favorites for the next time you need to use Bearly Sick: https://www.sjchs.org/services/mary-telfair-women's-hospital-at-candler/pediatric-services/bearly-sick

07/28/2026

Back-to-school season is right around the corner! ✏️ Books, binders, lunchboxes—it all adds up fast.

When does it become too much weight on one kid's shoulders?

🚨Remember the 5-10% Rule: A full backpack shouldn’t weigh more than 5% to 10% of your child’s body weight, says Mark Powers, physical therapist and clinical coordinator for Candler Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation Center.

He offers these tips for minimizing back pain:
✅Organize the heavy items low toward the center of the backpack;
✅Carry only what’s needed;
✅When picking up a heavy backpack, bend with both knees, not at the waist;
✅Use both shoulder straps-- one on each shoulder --to help evenly distribute the weight and promote good posture;
✅Place the backpack evenly in the middle of the back so the bottom rests about two inches above the waist;
✅Tighten and loosen straps as needed. The straps should be snug while wearing the pack so that it holds firmly on the body.

Most adjustment soreness fades in a week or two, but if pain persists, don't ignore it. Our team at St. Joseph’s/Candler Outpatient Rehabilitation Centers is here to help get your student feeling like their active, youthful self again! 💪

👉 Click the link to read the full guide and learn more about our rehab services!

https://www.sjchs.org/resource-hub/blogs/blog-detail/living-smart-blog/2024/07/30/back-to-school-watch-that-backpack-load

07/24/2026

The most common symptoms include heavy sweating, fast and weak pulse, muscle cramps, and extreme thirst. You also have to watch out for headache, dizziness, fainting, nausea and vomiting.

You may avoid a trip to the emergency department if you can immediately:
✅Move the person to a cool or air-conditioned space,
✅Remove unnecessary or heavy clothing,
✅Have them water and replace electrolytes with drinks like Gatorade or Powerade, and
✅Have them lay down and elevate their legs and feet slightly.

If after a period of heavy sweating, the person does not sweat at all and their symptoms do not improve, you could be witnessing signs of a life-threatening heat stroke, says Paddy Griffin, RN, who works in the Candler Hospital Emergency Department.

"Other signs include a core body temperature of 103.0 or higher, confusion, slurred speech, seizures, or even loss of consciousness. If someone has these symptoms, call 911 or get them to a hospital immediately. The ED offers resources that aren't available at home, such as body-cooling procedures, various modes of rehydration depending on your lab work, and specialized monitoring and equipment.

"Don’t hesitate to seek our help with the extreme effects of summer heat."

06/30/2026

When a nurse first meets a patient, it’s about more than just learning their name. How do St. Joseph’s/Candler nurses make sure their first interaction with a patient is a positive experience that will set the tone for the rest of their hospital stay?

"Nurses always greet and introduce themselves when they meet their patient, whether it is in the beginning of a shift while doing bedside report or in the Outpatient Surgical Services Department prior to a procedure," explains Venus Stevens, RN. "We always explain to our patients what we are doing and why.

"We understand how important it is for our patients and their families to feel informed. Each patient room also has a white board that we fill out with important information about the patient’s care.

"We also give our patients an orientation packet that lists all the important information—how we will be rounding at least every two hours to see what they need, the timing for vital signs and lab draws, meal times, our focus on safety and even the TV channel guide. It is another great resource that keeps the information that patients and families need in one place."

"Patients feel more prepared and at ease when they know what the role of their caregiver is. Every shift, we always write the names of the entire care team including the physician, nurse, patient care tech, etc., on the white board in the room, along with the phone number to the nurses’ station.

All of the staff in the hospital—such as transporters, physical therapists, patient care techs and even the volunteers who help deliver flowers—share the same values and use the same protocol as nurses. We find that if we are communicating well and care for the patient based on their individual needs and preferences, this significantly reduces the anxiety patients and families feel while in the hospital. Great communication is always one of our highest priorities."

06/26/2026

There are two words that physicians, nurses and staff in emergency medicine want everyone to know: BE FAST.

This phrase is an acronym which helps people remember the signs of a stroke and how to respond. It stands for:

B - Balance: Loss of balance or coordination.
E - Eyes: Loss of vision or double vision.
F - Face: One side of the face droops or is numb.
A - Arm: Weakness or numbness in one arm.
S - Speech: Slurred speech or difficulty speaking.
T - Time: Time to call 911 immediately.

The emphasis on time is deliberate because “time is brain,” meaning that every second counts when it comes to saving brain tissue from the debilitating effects of a stroke.

“The sooner you can get to the emergency department after the onset of your symptoms, the better,” says Spencer Adoff, MD, of Georgia Emergency Associates (pictured above on the left). “If you recognize that something is off, don’t wait to talk to family or friends. Call 911 so that EMS can bring you to the ED. They will call us ahead so that our team is ready for the interventions we need to perform.”

06/08/2026

03/28/2026

Candler Prescription Center located in Candler Hospital will be closed on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

It will reopen at 7 a .m. Monday, March 30.

12/22/2025

⚠️Effective Monday, Dec. 22: Due to a high volume of respiratory illnesses diagnosed in our region, St. Joseph's/Candler has issued visitor restrictions at all our facilities, including our the Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion, offsite campuses and physician offices.

⏩Click to view restrictions at https://www.sjchs.org/visitor-restrictions

01/07/2024

It’s becoming much more common these days – women are waiting later in life to have babies. They may be focusing on their career or waiting to become more financially stable before having a child.

It makes sense. But unfortunately the older you get, the more risks that are associated with getting pregnant, staying pregnant and delivering a healthy baby.

The good news: If you are 35 and older and become and stay pregnant, there are far more healthy deliveries than bad ones, says Dr. Jerry Lucas, OB/GYN for St. Joseph’s/Candler Physician Network. He’s been an OB/GYN for 25 years.

“I’m absolutely seeing more women wait to have children, and there are far more successful deliveries than there are bad ones. You just may have to take a few extra precautions.”

More at https://www.sjchs.org/living-smart-blog/blog-details/blog/2022/05/10/what-is-advanced-maternal-age