Methodism

• MEMPHIS, Tenn. , March 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare is proud to announce it is the first healthcare system in Tennessee to offer the Medtronic PulseSelect™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) technology to patients suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF).
• "Pulsed Field Ablation is a paradigm-shifting technology," said Dr. Yehoshua Levine, division chief of cardiac electrophysiology at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare who performed the first PFA at Methodist University Hospital.
• "PFA allows us to deliver timely treatment to more patients when they need help the most," said Dr. James Litzow, cardiac electrophysiologist with Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital.
• Across the MLH system , the cardiovascular team at Methodist University Hospital conducted the first PFA for the healthcare system on March 11 with Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital's cardiovascular team conducting its first PFA on March 12.

• The objective of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and usability of PressureSafe to detect early-stage pressure injuries Stage 1 / suspected deep tissue injuries (sDTI) before skin breakage, compared to standard of care.
• PressureSafe detected biomarkers and changes in tissue structures under the skin’s surface as they relate to pressure injuries.
• The 14-day efficacy portion of the single arm, bi-center study evaluated 38 patients at high risk of pressure injury development.
• Based on these data, the study concluded that PressureSafe is a safe, efficient, and valuable method for early detection of pressure injuries.

• MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- First Horizon Corp. (NYSE: FHN or "First Horizon") today announced Vernon Stafford, Jr., Senior EVP/Chief Audit Executive, received the Kate Gooch Leader of the Year award at the 2024 Leadership Memphis Awards Luncheon held on March 5, 2024.
• This honor is given to a Memphis leader who demonstrates exceptional community advocacy, plays a pivotal role in driving Memphis forward, and serves as an example for leaders in our city.
• Stafford serves as immediate past chairman of the board of directors of Leadership Memphis and chairman of the board of trustees of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, both in Memphis.
• "I am truly honored to receive recognition from an organization dedicated to cultivating informed community leaders who strive to better Memphis," said Stafford.

• The National Churches Trust has launched a campaign to save the UK’s historic churches.
• Church communities and other heritage organisations have lauded this push to highlight the significance of places of worship within British heritage.

The state of the UK’s churches

• It lists 4,871 historic buildings and sites in England at risk from disrepair or inappropriate changes.
• Cadw, the Welsh government’s historic environment service, reports that 10% of listed places of worship in Wales are vulnerable.
• Many churches are at risk of closure due to structural problems far beyond the capacity of local congregations to fix.
• Unlike some European countries, the UK government does not provide regular funding to churches for repairs.

• Between 1995 and 2017, the National Lottery Heritage Fund granted £970 million to places of worship across the UK.
• It is currently distributing a further £1.9 million through the National Churches Trust.
• Research has shown this can be a way to bring life back to under-used churches, particularly rural ones.

What is a church for?

• However, expanding the use of a church can also be incompatible with the religious beliefs of the faith community to which it belongs.
• For such groups, the sacred nature of their places of worship must be maintained.
• Under Roman Catholic Canon Law, the entire church building is considered sacred due to the presence of the Blessed Sacrament within it.

• Further, historic churches would not exist today without the continuing faith and practice of worshipping communities.
• Other countries recognise people’s rituals, beliefs and traditions as part of what Unesco defines as “intangible cultural heritage”.
• Church buildings should be prized – and protected – for the vibrant living traditions of Britain’s diverse religious communities, as well as what they tell us about our past.

The research for this article is funded by the British Academy through the Innovation Fellowship scheme. It is a formal research partnership with the Catholic Bishop's Conference of England and Wales. The project maintains research integrity and standards via University of Reading research processes.