St. Joseph's/Candler

St. Joseph's/Candler More than 300 years of medical expertise and today's latest technology. At St. Simply put, St. Joseph's/Candler is smart medicine. Whether you are visiting St.

Joseph's/Candler, our physicians, nurses, medical researchers and other clinical staff take great pride in being on the cutting-edge of health care, offering the most advanced medical procedures and breakthrough technology available nearly anywhere. Joseph's Hospital, Candler Hospital, one of our St. Joseph's/Candler medical group locations, any of our community outreach programs or our Web site,

you instantly become part of a historic tradition of distinguished health care excellence. It is one that has been an integral part of the Savannah landscape for more than 325 cumulative years. Our faith-based mission is to treat illness and promote wellness for all people and we diligently strive to provide the highest quality health care and service to all who may need it. Yet, we also know that great care involves more than just great medicine. It involves being pro-active about one's own health, taking charge on the preventive front, educating oneself and others, and using all the available tools to ensure one's own health and that of their family. In an effort to enhance the available tools, we have provided this beneficial Web site and healthcare portal. As you navigate, please use the information provided to learn more about the services and resources that we offer to our patients and visitors, as well as the educational resources and interactive opportunities that we have designed for you.

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Dooly, the only Smart Living cover story who made us fall in love with him w...
06/04/2026

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Dooly, the only Smart Living cover story who made us fall in love with him without saying a word.

Dooly was an award-winning K-9 police dog when we met him and his partner, Corporal Ben Ferrero, in 2019. That story is linked in the comments.

Know someone who'd like to learn the basics of Microsoft Word? Or how to protect themselves online?The African American ...
06/04/2026

Know someone who'd like to learn the basics of Microsoft Word? Or how to protect themselves online?

The African American Health Information and Resource Center offers free, in-person computer and smart phone classes in a comfortable, indoor setting. Register by emailing [email protected].

Have you heard that sitting is the new smoking?Sitting for too long, such as at work for eight hours paired with a seden...
06/03/2026

Have you heard that sitting is the new smoking?

Sitting for too long, such as at work for eight hours paired with a sedentary lifestyle, can be a risk factor in determining how healthy an individual is, says Brittany Hartl, wellness coordinator with St. Joseph’s/Candler. By sitting too long your body is not required to burn fat, burn excess glucose in the bloodstream or strengthen muscles.

Living a sedentary lifestyle also can lead to high blood pressure, excess weight and increased cholesterol levels and is a secondary risk factor that increases your chances of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.

“In general, an inactive lifestyle leads to decreased energy and weakened muscles and cardiovascular system,” Hartl adds. “And overall, it also can be bad for mental health.”

What can you do about it? Hartl offers eight tips at the link in the comments.

Sign up today to get screened by a St. Joseph's/Candler Hernia Master Surgeon on Saturday, June 20. St. Joseph's/Candler...
06/03/2026

Sign up today to get screened by a St. Joseph's/Candler Hernia Master Surgeon on Saturday, June 20. St. Joseph's/Candler was the region's first Hernia Center of Excellence and continues to be the leader in hernia treatment.

Don't live in pain! Research shows that one in four people will suffer from a hernia during their lifetime - that uncomfortable and painful bulge that gets worse when you cough, strain or lift.

https://www.sjchs.org/services/service-list/hernia-center-of-excellence/hernia-screening-sign-up

Congratulations to our latest DAISY Award winner, Dana Boothe. Dana is a Resource Coordinator on 6 North at St. Joseph’s...
06/02/2026

Congratulations to our latest DAISY Award winner, Dana Boothe. Dana is a Resource Coordinator on 6 North at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She was nominated by a family member of a patient, who wrote:

“There are nurses who provide excellent care, and then there are nurses like Dana—the ones who quietly and confidently change everything.

From the start, she brought a sense of order and calm. She was professional, poised, and deeply knowledgeable—the kind of nurse who instantly earns your trust simply by the way she listens and responds. But what truly set Dana apart was her willingness to advocate.

She became my father’s voice when it felt like ours wasn’t being heard. She asked the right questions, coordinated communication among the care team, and made sure we understood every step of what was happening. Her calm presence steadied us, and her quiet persistence ensured that my dad received the attention and answers he needed.

In a system that can often feel overwhelming, Dana made it human again. She reminded us that compassion and clarity can coexist and that advocacy is one of the most powerful forms of care there is.”

Congratulations Dana!

Endocrinologist Dr. Carolyn Nelson shares what inspired her to become a doctor and explains her specialty in diabetes, h...
06/01/2026

Endocrinologist Dr. Carolyn Nelson shares what inspired her to become a doctor and explains her specialty in diabetes, hormones and metabolism.

Link in the comments.

Cindy Zambito is part of a team of nurses that for many years were known as PICC nurses, because of their specialized tr...
05/29/2026

Cindy Zambito is part of a team of nurses that for many years were known as PICC nurses, because of their specialized training in administering peripherally inserted central catheters for patients who needed more than a regular IV.

Now they are known as the Vascular Access Team. Zambito explains how these specially trained nurses help patients receive medication, nutrition and more for long-term treatment.

https://www.sjchs.org/resource-hub/smart-living-magazine/may-june-2024/ask-a-magnet-nurse

Have diabetes or high blood pressure or maybe even both? One treatment option that research has shown to help control or...
05/28/2026

Have diabetes or high blood pressure or maybe even both? One treatment option that research has shown to help control or even lower your numbers is exercise.

Even more good news: It doesn’t have to be too rigorous. Studies show that walking just a few minutes a day or simple resistance exercises, such as wall squats or jumping jacks, make a difference in your health.

“There is remarkable data that shows regular exercise can lower A1C by a minimum of .6 percent, .7 percent and beyond,” says Dr. Chandler Brandenburg, physician with St. Joseph’s/Candler Primary Care in Pembroke.

“If you think about the oral medications we use, they have similar data that they can lower A1C by around 1 percent. So, there’s a possibility if you start exercising you can get rid of one of your medicines.”

(Of course, never stop taking any of your medications without consulting with your doctor.)

Outside of just blood sugar control, exercise lowers your risk of heart disease, and heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in people with diabetes, Dr. Brandenburg says.

“Even 500 steps a day, which is very minimum if you are supposed to take 10,000, can reduce heart disease risk of death by two to nine percent in diabetic patients,” Dr. Brandenburg says. “Exercise is also good for other body systems, mental health, osteoporosis and really everything.”

Brandenburg explains In the comments the many benefits of exercise for people living with different types of diabetes.

If you are a parent, you may be all too accustom to your child getting an ear infection.Ear infections are very common i...
05/28/2026

If you are a parent, you may be all too accustom to your child getting an ear infection.

Ear infections are very common in children. The National Institutes of Health estimates more than 80 percent of children will have at least one ear infection by the time they turn three. By age six, about 40 percent of children will have had an ear infection at least three times.

And this time of year, there’s one particular type of ear infection pediatricians and pediatric ENTs tend to treat frequently – swimmer’s ear.

“I feel like it’s common because I see it frequently, especially during the summer months,” says Dr. Stephanie Ambrose, pediatric ENT with Georgia Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists at St. Joseph’s/Candler.

Swimmer’s ear, also known as otitis externa, is an infection of the ear canal skin, Dr. Ambrose says. The ear canal is a tube that goes from the opening of the ear to the eardrum. If water gets trapped in the canal and doesn’t drain out or gets trapped by wax build-up, then it creates a moist environment allowing bacteria or fungus to grow and create an infection, Dr. Ambrose says.

Swimmer’s ear most often happens to children, but it can occur in adults as well. The condition can cause redness or swelling, irritation, trouble hearing and/or discharge. Most kids present with pain or the parent notices swelling or that the ear is tender to the touch, Dr. Ambrose says.

Then, whether the infection is due to bacteria or a fungus, your physician can prescribe an antibiotic or antifungal medication to treat swimmer’s ear. Sometimes a steroid or other ointment may be recommended. Almost all cases are treated topically with ear drops. Dr. Ambrose says symptoms tend to resolve within one to two weeks.

Dr. Ambrose offers tips for preventing swimmer's ear at the link: https://www.sjchs.org/resource-hub/blogs/blog-detail/living-smart-blog/2024/06/26/what-is-swimmer-s-ear

Did you know heat and humidity can negatively affect a medicine’s potency and effectiveness? Medications stored in a war...
05/26/2026

Did you know heat and humidity can negatively affect a medicine’s potency and effectiveness? Medications stored in a warm, damp environment break down sooner than their expiration date, explains Abby Case, a clinical pharmacy specialist with the Center for Medication Management and at our primary care offices in Richmond Hill and Rincon.

With the dog days of summer upon us, it’s the perfect time to review your medication storage habits both at home and when traveling.

“We tell patients not to store medications in the bathroom because of the moisture in the air,” Case says. “In the kitchen, especially if you don’t have a vent hood over the stove or oven, the heat and humidity there can cause them to break down too if they are stored near an oven or sink.”

Many medications should be stored at controlled room temperature, which is between 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Some can handle slightly higher or lower temperatures for short bouts, but patients can run into trouble with medication safety and effectiveness when storage locations exceed 86 degrees.

So if your home is unusually hot in the summer or you’re traveling in your car for an extended period of time, it’s important to take precautions.

For smart storage ideas for your meds, click
https://www.sjchs.org/resource-hub/blogs/blog-detail/living-smart-blog/2023/06/07/medicine-and-heat-pharmacist-offers-tips-to-keep-your-prescriptions-safe-and-effective

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