For decades, St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia has been a cornerstone for expecting mothers in northeast Georgia. But tonight, the hospital's labor and delivery unit has officially shut down, leaving families scrambling and nurses without work. Hospital officials say Medicaid cuts were the final straw after months of funding and staffing struggles. The closure now forces pregnant women in Franklin County and surrounding areas to travel 45 minutes to an hour and a half to Athens or Greenville for maternity care — a potentially dangerous distance in the event of a complicated or high-risk pregnancy.
In a social media landscape shaped by hashtags, algorithms, and viral posts, nurse leaders must decide: Will they let the narrative spiral, or can they adapt and join the conversation?
...
