Flaget Memorial Hospital Receives $23,000 Grant to Improve Infant Care in Emergency Department

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (July 23, 2025) – The Flaget Memorial Hospital Foundation, on behalf of Flaget Memorial Hospital, has received a $23,000 grant from the WHAS Crusade for Children that will be used to purchase vital equipment that will enhance newborn care and safety in Nelson County.

The grant will allow Flaget Memorial Hospital to purchase a Panda Warmer and a hearing screener for its Birth Center. The Panda Warmer provides a safe and controlled environment to assess and treat newborns immediately after birth, while the hearing screener helps identify infants who may require early intervention. This essential equipment will enhance the hospital’s ability to monitor, diagnose and care for both full-term and at-risk infants, ensuring they receive the highest standard of care from the very beginning.

Flaget’s emergency department treats approximately 500 patients under the age of one annually. The Flaget Memorial Hospital Birth Center welcomed 238 infants in 2024, and 36% of those were considered pre-term and at-risk infants.

“This grant is going to provide Flaget Memorial Hospital with critical equipment that help us care for our most vulnerable patients – newborns who need immediate and specialized support,” said Jennifer Nolan, Ed.D., president of Flaget Memorial Hospital. “We are committed to giving every child the healthiest start possible, and this funding helps us deliver on that promise for families across our community.”

This grant represents a continued partnership between the two organizations to improve health outcomes for pediatric patients and provide critical support to local families.

“We are proud to support Flaget Memorial Hospital in its ongoing commitment to providing high-quality care for newborns,” said Dawn Lee, president and CEO, WHAS Crusade for Children. “The ability to accurately assess and identify infants who need additional support is essential, and this new equipment will ensure Flaget’s teams are even better prepared to meet the needs of their youngest patients.”

To learn more about how you can support the Flaget Memorial Hospital Foundation, visit www.chisaintjosephhealth.org/saint-joseph-hospital-foundation.

About Saint Joseph Health

Saint Joseph Health, part of CommonSpirit Health, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 100 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, home health agencies and an ambulatory Care Center. The hospitals in Saint Joseph Health are Flaget Memorial Hospital, Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling, and Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to providing a wide array of services to build a healthier future for all. Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

About Flaget Memorial Hospital

Flaget Memorial Hospital, part of Saint Joseph Health, is a 52-bed facility located in Bardstown, Kentucky. Established in 1951 by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, the facility serves residents of Nelson, Hardin, Marion, Washington, Spencer, Bullitt and LaRue counties. The facility is also home to Nelson County’s first full-service cancer center and is nationally recognized for orthopedic and surgical care, as well as inpatient satisfaction.

About Flaget Memorial Hospital Foundation

Flaget Memorial Hospital Foundation supports Saint Joseph Health’s drive for excellence by inspiring donors to make a tangible difference through their philanthropic investment in outstanding patient care facilities and services, the education of caregivers, advanced clinical research and improved access to quality medical care.

About the WHAS Crusade for Children

The WHAS Crusade for Children, established by WHAS-TV in 1954, raises money for agencies, hospitals and schools that make life better for children with special needs. In its first 70 years, the Crusade has raised $211 million. Thanks to generous contributions of goods and services, the Crusade returns 100% of all donations to organizations that serve children with special needs in Kentucky and southern Indiana. Fire departments raise nearly 60% of the donations each year by staging roadblocks and hosting other fundraising events.

Millions of children have been helped by the Crusade since 1954.  The WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity.  Gifts are tax-deductible as permitted by law.

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