Beebe Helping us Be Better!

Beebe Healthcare continues to grow throughout Delaware’s coastal towns and surroundings in Sussex County. One of its many services is its community outreach program that involves about 20 nurses.  

This group exists “to improve the health of Sussex County residents via screening clinics and health fairs”. The department is designed to support Beebe’s mission to encourage healthy living and prevent illness among residents and visitors to our community. Beebe provides a range of free health screenings throughout our community, including blood pressure, cholesterol, osteoporosis, and skin cancer screenings.  

Stacie Gosting, BSN, RN, is Community Service Manager for Community Outreach in Beebe Healthcare’s Population Health Department. “Historically, we’ve organized 3-4 Beebe-sponsored health fairs and 40-50 free flu clinics that are open to the public,” she said. “In 2022, we participated in over 50 events that included free health screenings, over 50 free flu clinics, and 10+ COVID Booster clinics. Community members can check our Calendar of Events page on Beebe’s web site or reach out to Population Health 302-645-3337 for more information”.   

Recently, the Paynter’s Mill (PM) neighborhood brought in a group of nurses from Gosting’s team to do free screenings on those topics. PM resident Margaret Saul organized the event. “The professionalism, comfort level and team-work the RNs that joined us for PM health screening was evident,” she said.  

She should know since she is a retired registered herself. “Almost every person that came to the screening made a point of offering a favorable comment,” she said. “Many of our neighbors who didn’t join us said that they would attend the next time and a couple of attendees from our recent screening said they took their results to their doctor. We have already set a fall date for screening, flu shots and if available covid boosters”. 

Gosting works with each site to determine the best hours for their community members. A typical screening event is scheduled for about 2-4 hours. “Our numbers can vary greatly, from a small number to a few hundred, depending on the event,” she said.   

Other events that include speakers and presentations are organized in collaboration with several departments. Information on these additional opportunities can be found on the same Calendar of Events page.  

Gosting’s team also organizes, plans, and staffs all Community Outreach health fairs involving Beebe.  

One recent event – a free Health and Wellness Fair – took place at the Children’s Beach House on February 2. Nurse Corey Kennedy offered numerous health and wellness tips including advice for those willing to travel to Beebe Healthcare’s Margaret H. Rollins Lewes campus. They can take part in the free Friends and Family CPR training held at 9 am on the second Saturday and at 6 pm on the second Tuesday of each month.  

This class lasts about three hours and includes adult-only CPR, child and infant CPR, Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use, and what to do if someone is choking.   

The group’s next community Health Fair is scheduled for Saturday, February 25 from 9AM-2PM at the Atlantic Sands in Rehoboth. This event is free and open to everyone. Approximately 50 partners/vendors have registered to serve the public.  

“In May, we will launch our first National Diabetes Prevention Program for interested individuals who have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes,” Gosting said.  

Those interested in Beebe’s Friends and Family CPR can call 303-645-3100 X 8237 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or email Corey Kennedy at ckennedy@beebehealthcare.org for a quicker response.  

Gosting’s team does not provide medical appointments, but they do provide a service to help people find a doctor. Check the Beebe website for more details on additional community health programs.  

By Mary Jo Tarallo, Guest Journalist

Mary Jo Tarallo spent much of her career in public relations with various non-profits and spent 40 years involved with the ski industry as a journalist, public relations director for a national trade association and as executive director of the Learn to Ski and Snowboard initiative. Prior to her ski industry involvement she worked for the Maryland International Center in Baltimore and United Way of Central Maryland. She won a Gold Award for TV programming for a United Way simulcast that starred Oprah Winfrey. She has been cited for her work by numerous organizations. Mary Jo grew up in Baltimore, attended the University of Maryland and Towson University, lived in Washington, DC for 21 years and has been a full time resident of Rehoboth Beach and Milton since May 2019.