DAYTONA BEACH – Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center recently hosted a Flu Shot Clinic for the homeless at the Star Family Shelter, located at 340 North Street in Daytona Beach.
“We vaccinated 75 homeless people in the hope of preserving their health during the upcoming winter and flu season,” said Robert Davis, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center Executive Director of Nursing. “We administer influenza vaccines annually at the Star Family Shelter to help protect this vulnerable and hard-to-reach population. These people may be unable to access the services they need to stay healthy and are not connected to mainstream communication networks and may never receive important health messages. It was truly touching experience that exemplified our hospital’s Christian mission and Sacred Work at its finest.”
Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center’s Sacred Work is an expression of God’s love in the work the hospital performs each day.
“It is a culture of recognizing that the hospital’s work is sacred because our life, and the lives of those we serve, are sacred,” Davis said.
According to the American Lung Association, one out of five Americans suffer from influenza every year. In addition, influenza and related complications result in approximately 226,000 hospitalizations in the US annually.
“It may be surprising, but combined with pneumonia, the flu is the nation's eighth leading cause of death,” said Davis. “The best way to prevent influenza is with an annual flu shot.”
Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center is part of the Florida Hospital Volusia/Flagler nonprofit hospital system with a mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ. In 2010, Florida Hospital Volusia/Flagler collectively contributed more than $107 million in benefits to the underprivileged, the community’s overall health and wellness and spiritual needs, and capital improvements.
About Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center
Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center consists of three campuses, a 277-bed hospital in Daytona Beach, a 119-bed hospital in Ormond Beach and a new outpatient clinic located at the Pavilion at Port Orange. Our specialties include cardiology, emergency, hospice, home health, imaging, laboratory, oncology, obstetrics, neurosurgery, physician practices, rehabilitation and women’s services. Florida Hospital Memorial was named one of America’s 50 Best hospitals for 2010 by HealthGrades®, an independent healthcare ratings organization. Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center is among the top one percent of all hospitals nationwide for quality outcomes. For more information, visit www.floridahospitalmemorial.org.