Local hospital deemed ‘hidden gem’

Better meeting the needs of those seeking care

While some children grow up thinking about being an astronaut or starring on the big screen, that was never the case for Christy Flynn, director of nursing at Baptist Health Floyd, who always knew she wanted to become a nurse. 

“I come from a long line of givers,” she said. “My mother was in childhood development and my father is a retired minister. It is who we are as a family. It was a natural thing for me to continue, and it turned out to be a perfect fit for who I have grown into as a person. I am passionate about patient care and being a resource for other nurses within our hospital, it is a way I know I can benefit our community every single day.”

With over 21 years of experience from bedside care to leadership roles, Christy has had a front-row seat to witness the progress being made in healthcare. “I was here when we first opened our cancer center, and now we are continuously upgrading to the newest technologies and the latest equipment, and through that, we are able to better meet the needs of those seeking our care.”

Christy finds that proximity is a huge benefit for those needing lifesaving cancer care. “Often, we are described as a ‘hidden gem.’ People don’t realize what we have the capacity to do. We are more than a community hospital, we are a regional facility capable of providing the same high level of care you find in any metropolitan area, but we do it while you are a short drive from home and with your support system close by.”

In addition to reducing barriers to care by decreasing the need for travel to get medical treatment, Christy believes the patient care you will find at Baptist Health Floyd sets it apart from any rival facility. “Here we recognize patients are someone’s family and we treat them as such. It is a philosophy exercised from leadership to support staff, and it is invaluable to the success of our hospital and the well-being of our patients.”