Marion General Hospital Nurses Support Marion Women’s Club Event Through Longstanding Partnership

Marion General Hospital Nurses Support Marion Women's Club Event Through Longstanding Partnership

Key Takeaways:

• OhioHealth Marion General Hospital nurses connected with community members while providing first aid support at the Marion Women's Club's ice cream social.
• Nurses heard firsthand from neighbors about their positive experiences receiving care at Marion General.
• OhioHealth and the Marion Women's Club share a longstanding commitment to supporting the health and well-being of the Marion community.

A familiar face at the hospital can mean a lot to a patient. But sometimes, the most meaningful connections happen outside hospital walls.

OhioHealth Marion General Hospital associates found new ways to connect while volunteering at the Marion Women's Club's Olde Fashioned Ice Cream Social, where emergency department nurses Courtney Jorgensen and Haley White provided first aid support.

Held at the Marion Women's Club property on July 19, the free event brought residents together for an afternoon of history, music and fellowship, featuring Riverside Dairy ice cream, lawn games, special displays and tours of the Club's historic home historic home and the newly dedicated Women's History Resource Center, which houses the Club's collection of archives.

For Jorgensen and White, the afternoon offered an opportunity to serve the community in a different way, meeting neighbors, hearing their stories and learning more about the impact Marion General Hospital has had on their lives.

"It was really memorable when people came up and shared their stories," Jorgensen said. "They would tell us about their experiences at the hospital and how well they were cared for. It was nice to be in the community hearing those positive stories."

Although the first aid station was there in case anyone needed assistance, the afternoon became more about conversations and connections.

"People would come up to us and say, 'You look kind of lonely,'" Jorgensen said. "We would tell them that's actually a good thing because we're here just in case of an emergency, but we're happy to help in any way that's needed. It helps bridge the gap between healthcare and everyday life. We're not only here when you're sick, we're also here when you're healthy."

White said it was rewarding to meet people in a different setting and hear their experiences at the hospital.

"It demonstrates our commitment to improving the health and well-being of our community beyond the walls of Marion General Hospital," White said. "It was nice to connect with people and show them that OhioHealth is invested in their health and well-being, not just when they're a patient but every day."

Jamie Cunningham, chief nursing officer and vice president of Patient Care Services at OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, said associates' involvement in events like this reflects the compassion they bring to their work.

"Our associates care deeply about the people they serve, and events like this are another way they can connect outside the hospital," Cunningham said. "Those moments help build trust and strengthen the relationships that are at the heart of great patient care."

The partnership between OhioHealth and the Marion Women's Club is rooted in a shared commitment to improving the health and well-being of the community. Founded in 1895, the Marion Women's Club has a long history of supporting public health initiatives, including advocating for the creation of Marion General Hospital.

"Health and public health have been a longstanding focus of the Marion Women's Club," said Valerie Wigton, president of the Marion Women's Club. "We have always looked for opportunities to partner with organizations that care about the health and welfare of our community, and OhioHealth has been a wonderful partner."

Over the years, Marion General Hospital and the Marion Women's Club have collaborated on a variety of initiatives, including the Marion Women's Club Gala, Women's Wellness Wednesdays and Handbags for Hope, a program that supports individuals served by local domestic violence shelters.

"We feel very blessed and honored to have OhioHealth Marion General Hospital as one of our longtime partners," Wigton said. "We look forward to continuing to work together to improve our community."

It's a partnership Marion General Hospital hopes will continue for years to come.

"We're fortunate to have partners like the Marion Women's Club," said Jim Parobek, president, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital. "We want people to know we're invested in this community every day. Whether we're caring for patients in the hospital or partnering at events like this, we're proud to support what makes Marion such a strong community."

To learn more about OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, click here.

To learn more about the Marion Women's Club, visit marionwomensclub.org.

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