Leaders from Saint Joseph London, Baptist Health Corbin Discuss COVID-19 in Southeastern Kentucky

LONDON, Ky. (Sept. 9, 2021) – Hospital leaders from Saint Joseph London and Baptist Health Corbin held a joint press conference on Thursday, Sept. 9, to discuss the impact of COVID-19 at both facilities and within the southeastern Kentucky area.

During the press conference, which can be viewed on the Saint Joseph London and Baptist Health Corbin Facebook pages, hospital leaders spoke about recent updates to hospital visitation guidelines, changes to COVID-19 surge plans, the impact the virus is having on local emergency rooms, and the change in patients who are seeking emergency care, among other important topics.

“We believed it was important for our hospitals in the London-Corbin area to share with our community the impact COVID-19 is having on our communities,” said John Yanes, president, Saint Joseph London. “Most of the patients in our hospitals now are younger, sicker and unvaccinated. Our best resource to care for our families, friends and neighbors, and to end this pandemic is the vaccine. We urge the community to get the COVID vaccine and continue to wear a mask, especially inside or in large crowds outdoors.”

“Throughout the past 18 months, the COVID-19 pandemic has been very hard on our nation, our state and our community. When the first cases were reported, no one imagined that this health care crisis would last this long, or affect so many. Recently, we have seen a significant increase in the COVID positivity rate in our area. Our hospital has the highest number of COVID inpatients we have seen since the pandemic began, and they are much younger and much sicker than before. Although we are taking every precaution to keep our patients, visitors, and staff safe, the numbers continue to rise,” stated Anthony Powers, president, Baptist Health Corbin. “Our staff are working tirelessly to care for our patients. I am in awe of their resilience, but they are growing tired. Together, we are asking that everyone do their part to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Please get vaccinated, and please continue to take precautions such as wearing a mask and social distancing as much as possible.”

Health care leaders participating in the press conference included John Yanes, president, Saint Joseph London; Anthony Powers, president, Baptist Health Corbin; Dr. Shelley Stanko, chief medical officer, Saint Joseph London; Dr. David Worthy, chief medical officer, Baptist Health Corbin; Kelly Helton, RN, director, Intensive Care Unit, Saint Joseph London; Dr. Kathryne Blair, director of Critical Care, Saint Joseph London; Joshua Bowling, PharmD, BCOP, pharmacy manager, Baptist Health Corbin; Philip Johnson, chaplain, retired.

About CHI Saint Joseph Health
CHI Saint Joseph Health, part of CommonSpirit Health, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 100 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, home health agencies and an ambulatory Care Center. The hospitals in CHI Saint Joseph Health are Flaget Memorial Hospital, Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling, and Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. CHI Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to providing a wide array of services toward a goal of building a healthier future for all. CHI Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

About Saint Joseph London

Saint Joseph London is a 150-bed full-service hospital located in London, Kentucky. Established in 1926, the facility serves patients from southeastern Kentucky, including those from Clay, Laurel, Jackson, Whitley, Knox and Pulaski counties. The current $152 million regional hospital opened in 2010, and offers all private patient rooms, with most overlooking a small lake and garden on the 52-acre healing environment. 

About Baptist Health Corbin

Baptist Health Corbin is a 273-bed, acute care facility providing a wide variety of healthcare services to the residents of Whitley, Knox, Laurel, Bell, Clay, McCreary, Harlan and Campbell counties in Kentucky and nearby Jellico, Tennessee. Part of nine-hospital Louisville, Kentucky-based Baptist Health, Baptist Health Corbin offers 24 points of care in a full continuum, from inpatient care and outpatient diagnostics to rehabilitation services, behavioral health and home care. Services include heart care, orthopedics, pain management, wound care, pain management, cancer care, diabetic treatments, and a full range of women’s services, including obstetrics and breast care. Baptist Health has a network of healthcare providers for patients in the southeast Kentucky area, including Baptist Health Medical Group physician offices, Baptist Health Urgent Care, and occupational medicine and physical therapy clinics. The hospital is also designated Pathway to Excellence® for excellence in nursing services by the American Nursing Credentialing Center. Learn more at BaptistHealth.com/Corbin.

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