Story in Hh Spring 2010

Transcription

hamiltonhealth
spring 2010 | hamiltonhealth.com
Northwest Georgia’s Health Magazine
Joint
Replacement
Stepping Out
Pain Free
Take a
Look!
The 2009 Annual and
Community
Benefit Report
Is Here
Begins on Page 7
Remembering
Art Taylor
On the Cover:
A Child’s Heart
Meet Megan on Page 20
hamiltonhealth
Jeff Myers
President and CEO
CEO Letter
Gary L. Howard
Senior Vice President and CFO
Karen J. Wisdom
Hamilton Medical Center COO
Dear Friend:
In addition to many great stories about real people, this issue of Hamilton health
magazine contains the 2009 annual report for Hamilton Health Care System. Since
the beginning, the mission of Hamilton has been to serve others through the ministry
of health care. Through remarkable teamwork among board members, leaders,
physicians, nurses, and other health professionals, our organization has become
one of the best in the nation, with excellent scores in clinical outcomes and patient
satisfaction. If you live in northwest Georgia, Hamilton is YOUR health system and
we are proud to provide world-class medical care here at home.
James C. Hazel
Murray Medical Center Administrator
Marcia Casteel
Executive Editor
Dena Buttenhoff
Editor-In-Chief
Ashley Honeycutt
Publisher
Elizabeth Stinchfield-Hixson
Managing Editor
I invite you to read about what Hamilton has accomplished during the past year.
We constantly strive to bring you the latest in technology, but we never forget that
we are here to serve you and to meet your needs. If you have any comments or
questions about our annual report, contact me at 706.272.6411. Your feedback is
always welcome.
Daniel Binkley, Brianne Carswell,
Thomas Crocker, Gabrielle Fernandez,
Katherine Hall, Adam Haskew, Sharon Love,
Erin Rosener, Natalie Roy, Laura Jane Walker,
Angelina Wallace, Laurren Welch
Contributing Writers
Sincerely,
Brian Norman
Designer
Daryl Cole, Curtis Cox, David Humber,
David Jenkins, Brian St. John
Photography
Jeff Myers
spring 2010
Table of
Contents
Features
2  CEO Letter
3  The Wheels on the Bus
19  Ask the Doc
 Soarian System at Hamilton
21  Recipe|Strawberry
Angel Cake
23  Calendar
 What is Guillain-Barré?
4  Remembering Art Taylor
6  Orthopaedic
Services Available
7 W
hitfield Healthcare
Foundation 2009
Annual Report
15  2
009 Community
Benefit Report
20  A
Heart Full of Hope
21  O
rgan and
Tissue Donation
22  S
usie’s Inspiration
Mystery Diagnosis from Last Issue
Molly was officially diagnosed with Lyme disease—a condition that is spread by almost
microscopic deer ticks that are usually found near the woods or in tall grasses. Fortunately,
Molly’s symptoms were detected early, and the condition was effectively treated with antibiotics,
preventing more serious medical problems like arthritis and neurological problems.
True North Custom Publishing, LLC
Developed By
Hamilton health is published as a service
of Hamilton Health Care System, Post
Office Box 1900, Dalton, GA 30722-1900.
©2010. All rights reserved. The contents
of this publication may not be reproduced
in whole or in part without written
permission from the publisher.
For more information on topics discussed
in this publication and programs or to
receive future issues of Hamilton health,
call 706.226.INFO (4636). This publication
in no way seeks to diagnose or treat illness
or to replace professional medical care.
Please see your physician if you have a
health problem.
On The Cover: Megan Madden
and her dog, T-bone.
The Answer Is
Guillain-Barré
The Wheels
on the Bus
Led to Hamilton Health
September 15, 2009, seemed like just another workday for Larry
Satcher, a 60-year-old school bus driver from Cohutta. After dropping
his students off at school, however, Larry’s day took a dramatic turn.
Pulling out of Northwest High
School’s parking lot, Larry
turned onto Highway 201.
Minutes later an empty logging
truck jackknifed, hitting Larry’s
bus head on. Dr. Steven Paynter
was traveling on the same road
when the accident occurred. He
rushed to the scene and stayed
with Larry until the emergency
responders arrived. They
spent 45 minutes removing
Larry from the mangled bus.
Thankfully, he was the only
person on the bus at the time.
Once freed, Larry was
transported to the Emergency
Department (ED) at Hamilton,
Hamilton Health Care
System is excited to
announce the first phase of
the “Hamilton Soars” project
with the implementation of
the new Siemens Soarian
Clinical System.
Larry Satcher
a level II Trauma Center. Upon
his arrival, the trauma team
quickly assessed and treated
his injuries.
care at Bradley’s Whiteside
Rehabilitation Care and is able
to walk with the assistance of
a walker.
“I suffered numerous injuries,
including a broken leg and
pelvis,” Larry says. “At the ED,
the physicians and nurses took
exceptional care of me while
spending several hours to help
stabilize my injuries.”
“My experience at the Hospital
was tremendous,” says Larry.
“I can’t say enough about how
wonderful everyone was,
especially Jana Brock, Donna
Elmore, and the other nurses
in SICU. I’m glad Hamilton was
there to help me through an
extremely difficult time in my
life. I will always be grateful.”
Road to Recovery
After spending two weeks in
the Surgical Intensive Care
Unit (SICU), Larry was well
enough to begin rehabilitation.
Today, he continues receiving
When tingling in the feet and
fingertips turned into paralysis
from the waist down, Ray McVey,
54, of Dalton, knew it was time
to seek treatment and turned to
Hamilton Medical Center.
“When I arrived at the Hospital, I could
hardly speak or move,” Ray says. “I
thought I was having a stroke. The
nurses could see I was scared and made
it their priority to calm and comfort me,
which is exactly what I needed.”
Following blood tests and a spinal tap,
Ray was finally diagnosed with GuillainBarré syndrome.
To learn more about the
SICU at Hamilton, visit
hamiltonhealth.com.
Soarian System
Comes to Hamilton Health
Soarian is a state-of-the-art clinical documentation system
designed to improve clinical quality, consistency, and
satisfaction for patients.
Soarian will replace and enhance the current computer systems
at Hamilton Health Care System with a more integrated solution.
Physicians and nurses now have electronic access to medical
records, physician orders, clinical assessments, and test results.
Saving Time and Space
Ray McVey nominated his entire nursing team for
the Daisy Award (Hamilton’s highest nursing honor).
Decoding the Disease
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a disorder
in which the body’s immune system
attacks part of the peripheral nervous
system, sometimes leaving the person
completely paralyzed. A rare condition,
Guillain-Barré affects one to two people
per 100,000 in the United States.
The ability to document and review patients’ charts and
information electronically saves time for the clinical and medical
staff. Paper-based patient medical records, which required
extensive filing, faxing, and storage space are now available with
a simple click through Soarian’s computerized records system.
If treated during the first onset of
symptoms, which include severe pain, loss
of bladder control, or trouble breathing,
patients suffering from Guillain-Barré can
potentially gain the ability to walk again.
Not only do electronically recorded medical records save time
and space, they also help prevent mistakes. Both translation
and written errors can be small, innocent missteps with
potentially large consequences. By implementing the Soarian
System to electronically record medical data, Hamilton ensures
the continual improvement and positive impact on the safety
and protection of our patients.
“I could not have received better
treatment,” says Ray. “My muscles are
starting to come back, and with the help
of the team at Hamilton, I continue on
my way to recovery.”
For more information on services offered at Hamilton Health
Care System, visit hamiltonhealth.com.
For information about treatment
services offered at Hamilton, visit
hamiltonhealth.com.
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A LifeWell Lived
Mary Jane and Art Taylor, Jr
How do you define a rich, meaningful life?
Some people point to service for one’s country as the ultimate characteristic of a worthwhile existence;
others name devotion to faith and family as life’s most noble attributes. By anyone’s measure, Dalton resident
Arthur (Art) Henry Taylor, Jr., lived a full and significant life.
Art passed away on January 24, at
the age of 88, but he will live on in the
memories of those whose lives he touched.
The story of Art’s life is a quintessentially
American tale, a narrative that illustrates
how one man’s abiding decency can have
a profound impact on those around him.
This interview took place shortly before
his passing.
In the Service of Freedom
Art was born in Buffalo, NY, in 1921, but
later moved to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.
He attended Duquesne University and
served in the Reserve Officers’ Training
Corps (ROTC). His time in the ROTC served
him well when he entered the U.S. Army as
a second lieutenant in 1943 at the height
of World War II. After training at Fort Sill,
OK, Art found himself in a Sherman tank
serving in some of the European theater’s
most famous engagements.
“My job was to go out with the attacking
tanks and stay in touch with the tank
company and the rest of my outfit by radio,
telling them where to direct fire,” Art said.
“The unit served at the front end of General
George S. Patton’s army. I had a good crew
in the tank, from the gunner to the section
chief in the turret. It’s an episode in my life
I wouldn’t want to repeat, but the work we
did also gave my crew and me a lot
of satisfaction.”
Art was discharged as a first lieutenant
in 1946 after receiving a Bronze Star for
heroic achievement and a Purple Heart
with Oak Leaf Cluster. He also garnered
Bronze Battle Stars for his service in
Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes,
and Central Europe.
Finding Love and a New Career
Mary Jane Taylor, Art’s wife of 63 years and
mother to the couple’s five children, vividly
recalls meeting the young man after his
return to Pennsylvania at the war’s end.
“It was Christmastime, and I had been
appointed by my colleagues in the drug
store where I worked to buy a present for
the store’s stock boy,” Mary Jane said. “I
went across the street to Taylor’s Clothing
Store to buy the gift, and while I was there,
I noticed a tall, cute young man. A friend
who worked there told me the man was
Art Taylor, the son of the store’s owner. Art
was the most eligible bachelor in town, so I
chased him until he finally caught me. We
dated nine months before getting married,
and we had quite a honeymoon marriage.”
Art and his brother worked as clothiers
in their father’s clothing stores in Beaver
Falls until the collapse of the steel industry
in Pennsylvania led Art to think about
opening his own store elsewhere. At an
Army reunion in Chattanooga, TN, a former
member of Art’s unit helped arrange a
meeting with Jim Moore, president of four
clothing stores, who wanted to open a new
location in Dalton.
“Mr. Moore told me he was building a
grand department store in Dalton that
would be a branch of Loveman’s, which
was based in Chattanooga,” Art said.
“He wanted me to run the store, and I
accepted. Loveman’s was to be located in
Walnut Square Mall, which was still under
construction. I caught a number of errors
in the blueprints that ultimately saved the
store a lot of money. In the original plans,
for example, there were no water pipes in
the steam room. When Loveman’s opened,
it was the best store for miles around.”
While Art got the store off the ground,
Mary Jane remained in Pennsylvania
to sell their house before following her
husband south. Art worked long hours at
Loveman’s and was eventually transferred
to the flagship store in Chattanooga. After
a brief retirement, Art worked for an
upscale women’s shoe store in the Scenic
City before making his departure from the
working world permanent.
After Art’s retirement, the Taylors
considered moving to Florida or returning
home to Pennsylvania, but they found their
hearts were in Dalton. The couple became
deeply involved in the civic life of their
adopted community, particularly Hamilton
Medical Center. Art served on The
Hospital’s fundraising board, while Mary
Jane has volunteered at Hamilton since her
arrival in Dalton.
Even during one of the most difficult
times of Art’s life, he found a way to
positively impact the future of health care
in his community.
Helping the Next
Generation of Nurses
In October 2009, Art was admitted to
Hamilton for pneumonia and suffered a
heart attack during his stay. He spent a
week recovering in Hamilton’s Dedicated
Education Unit, where nursing students
from Dalton State College (DSC) are paired
with experienced nurses to care for patients.
“Student nurses performed Art’s basic
care, and it was so nice for Art and his wife
to instill confidence in the students by
allowing them to care for him,” said Lynda
Ridley, MSN, RN, CCRN, Director
of Clinical Education at Hamilton and
Clinical Instructor at DSC. “He used his
illness as a way to develop better nurses
for his community.”
“Art was a kind person and a good citizen,”
said Beverly Joy, MSN, RN, CPAN, Clinical
Projects Coordinator and Services Advocate
at Hamilton. “I cared for him as a young
nurse in the early 1990s when he came
to Hamilton with a health emergency. He
was scared, but he trusted me to help and
comfort him. When he grew calm and held
my hand, it was one of the most touching
moments I’ve experienced in my career. He
was a truly special person.”
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A Step Toward Health
Many patients who experience pain from arthritis or injury are unable
to perform the daily tasks or hobbies that are important to them.
For two patients at Hamilton Medical Center, a knee replacement
helped each of them regain mobility.
Robert Rollins, 60, of Calhoun, had his left knee replaced more than three years ago. He
experienced significant pain relief but still needed to deal with the pain in his right knee.
In early Fall 2009, J. Mitch Frix, MD, orthopaedic surgeon on staff at Hamilton Medical
Center, performed a total joint replacement surgery for Robert’s right knee.
“I was wasting my time having more minor surgeries to relieve pain,” says Robert. “After
my surgery, I completed therapy and I was back at my job at Calhoun Auto Parts in about
six weeks. Coming to Hamilton for my surgery was definitely worth the drive”
Restoring Movement
Orthopaedic specialists typically advise total knee replacements when a patient’s arthritis
has eroded the cushioning cartilage in the knee joint and causes chronic pain.
“We remove the diseased cartilage and bone and replace it with special
components or prosthesis,” Dr. Frix says. “Total knee replacement gives longterm pain relief and allows patients to return to most of their typical activities
after four to five weeks of recovery and physical therapy.”
Local Care
For Jim Bates, 61, of Cohutta, a retired teacher and educational administrator,
having his knee replacement performed at Hamilton Medical Center was a
good decision. His left knee had been bothering him for almost 10 years and
was hindering him from walking and traveling—two of his favorite hobbies
that he enjoys with his wife, Evelyn.
Top: Robert Rollins has over 300 model
cars. Bottom: Jim Bates admiring the
view from a hilltop in Antigua.
“Not only did I receive great treatment at Hamilton, I was able to have all my
therapy sessions right here in Dalton,” says Jim. “I really love to walk and
travel with my wife, and the total knee replacement surgery has me back on
track to doing my favorite activities.”
For more information on orthopaedic services available at Hamilton, visit hamiltonhealth.com.
An Educated Approach
Mitch Frix, MD, FACOS, has done
hundreds of joint replacement surgeries.
For patients who are nervous
or anxious about total joint
replacement, Hamilton
Medical Center offers patient
education classes that cover
the complete procedure.
The course details what
patients can expect before the
operation, during their hospital
stay and throughout rehabilitation,
which starts in the hospital after
surgery is complete.
“We offer the class twice a
month for patients and can
accommodate your schedule,”
says Suzanne Brown, MSN, RN,
Clinical Nurse Leader at Hamilton.
“If patients are educated about
what’s expected, they tend to
have better outcomes.”
Jim Bates, a patient who
attended the class before his total
knee replacement, considered the
information beneficial.
“The class showed me what
machines I would be using after
the surgery, which helped alleviate
any fears,” says Jim. “The staff at
Hamilton were helpful, cheerful,
and on the spot.”
Whitfield Healthcare
Foundation
Through the generosity of our donors, the Whitfield
Healthcare Foundation is dedicated to a mission of
highly personalized, quality patient care and a vision of
the best services and technology for the betterment of
health in the region.
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2009 Annual Report
Corporate Support Spurs Foundation Campaign
Executive Committee, seated on front row
from left: Jeff Myers, Vice Chairman; Robert
Smalley, Chairman Elect; Bryan McAllister,
Chairman; and Gary Howard, Executive Vice
President. Second row from left: Scott Sellers,
Signature Gifts; Jeff Browne, Planned Giving;
Brian Henton, Annual Support; Charles Hendry,
Trust Committee; Kevin Sanders, Business
Relations; and Ralph Boe, Special Prospects.
The Whitfield Healthcare Foundation, the philanthropic arm
of Hamilton Health Care System, is guided by Chairman Bryan
McAllister and a board of trustees serving on one of six committees:
Annual Support, Business Relations, Planned Giving, Signature
Gifts, Special Prospects, or Trust.
With a recommendation made by the Whitfield Healthcare
Foundation’s Executive Committee, the Board of Trustees adopted
a $5 million campaign in support of two important renovation and
expansion projects for Hamilton Medical Center —the Maternal
and Infant Care Center and the Department of Emergency Care
Services. The Foundation’s fundraising committees continued their
efforts in 2009, receiving pledges and gifts at year end just over
$4.3 million from local community support including individuals,
businesses, physicians, and Hamilton Ambassadors (Hamilton
associates who support the Foundation’s mission).
The Foundation hosted the Hamilton Business Alliance Forum in
April 2009, which was made possible by the efforts of the Business
Relations Committee. Kevin Sanders, Committee Chair, welcomed
nearly 240 area business and community leaders to the luncheon
program at Hamilton Medical Center. The program honored the
48 members of the Hamilton Business Alliance for their corporate
contributions to the Foundation. A special tribute was made to
the companies that recently supported the Capital Campaign.
Corporate gifts for the Campaign currently total $527,500.
The Forum also featured keynote speaker and author
Dr. Michael Ozner, a board-certified cardiologist of Baptist
Health South Florida in Miami. Based on years of research,
Dr. Ozner reviewed his 10-step heart disease prevention plan to
keep your heart healthy and to prevent a host of other diseases.
Dr. Ozner’s program, “The Keys of Longevity,” delivered a simple
message to American’s entrenched in a lethargic lifestyle: get
moving and eat healthier foods.
The Hamilton Business Alliance was established in 1995 to
recognize business and industry that support the advancement
of health care at Hamilton Medical Center. Hamilton Business
Alliance Sponsors, Leaders, Patrons, and Members become
partners with the Medical Center to better serve the health care
needs of the community.
A special designation of
“Benefactor” is bestowed
on those companies that
reach total cumulative
gifts of $150,000 or more
to the Foundation.
Dr. Michael Ozner speaks
at the Hamilton Business
Alliance Forum on the keys
to longevity.
2 0 0 9 A n n u al Re p o r t
Hamilton Business Alliance
Benefactors
Patrons
Lyle Industries
Shaw Industries
Challenger Industries
Coldwell Banker
Kinard Commercial
Dalton Utilities–OptiLink
First Bank of Dalton
Tandus
W. F. Taylor Company
Sponsors
BB&T
Brown Industries
Dorsett Industries
Marketing Alliance Group
Leaders
ACT Technologies
Burtco Enterprises
Minor, Bell & Neal
OMNOVA Solutions
Textile & Industrial Sales
The Daily Citizen
The Wachovia Foundation
Windstream Communications
Members
Accent Yarns & Textiles
Alliance National Bank
Bank of America
Beaulieu Group
Campbell Printing Company
Charter Communications
Cohutta Banking Company
Constantine Carpet
Controlled Products
Cornerstone Community Bank
Crye-Leike Award Realty
Dalton Box
Displaycraft
First Georgia Banking Company
Frank’s Pharmacy
Georgia Power Company
Joseph Decosimo & Company
J & J Industries
Lexmark Carpet Mills
Medical Business Concepts
Morehouse Group
Morgan Keegan
Oriental Weavers USA
Professional Testing Laboratory
Shiroki-N.A.
Textile Rubber & Chemical Company
The Cowan Law Firm
The Dixie Group
2009 Other Highlights:
• H
amilton Club’s Spring Campaign added new members
raising the total membership to 296 families who have
committed to making an annual gift of $100 to $499.
• W
estcott Associate New Membership Campaign was
kicked off in October. The new members were honored at
the Hamilton Medical Center Board of Trustees luncheon
in December. Currently, there are 98 Westcott associates
making a $5,000 pledge commitment to the Foundation.
• T
hirty teams competed in the 17th annual Golf Invitational
hosted at The Farm golf course. The team of Jack Bandy,
Murray Bandy, Steve Crane, and John Powell shot 55 to
win the first flight victory. The major sponsors for the
event included Emergency Coverage Corporation of
TEAMHealth, Inc. and Sodexo Health Care Services. This
popular fundraising event raised $94,900 in gross revenue
from sponsorships, player fees, and tournament contests in
support of the Capital Campaign.
• T
he Love Light Trees holiday fundraiser raised $9,833
toward the purchase of a new cardiac monitor system for
Hamilton’s Shaw Department of Emergency Care.
The Foundation sponsoring the following community programs
involving over 1,540 community contacts:
• Brown Bag Luncheon—Two medication review programs were
held for seniors at Mineral Springs United Methodist Church
and Pine Grove Baptist Church.
• Camp Sweet Control—The Foundation and Hamilton
Diabetes and Nutrition Center co-sponsored a two-day
summer camp in June at the Winkler Health and Education
Center and Bradley Wellness Center for 30 children ages
6 to 16 with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
• Hamilton Hospice Memorial—Over 180 family members and
friends attended a memorial service in July at the Brown
Conference Center to commemorate the lives of their loved
ones cared for by Hamilton Hospice.
• Pediatric Orientation—A field trip for over 1,000 first graders
to familiarize children with Hamilton Medical Center.
• Wellspring for Women—Two health and wellness luncheon
programs were held for women in the community focusing
on the topics of heart disease and breast cancer awareness.
Contact the Foundation at 706.272.6128 for additional
information on these community programs.
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Through the generosity of our donors, the Whitfield Healthcare
Foundation is able to enhance the patient care and health
promotion programs of Hamilton Medical Center. We gratefully
acknowledge those who provided the following gifts received from
January 1 through December 31, 2009.
®
PLEDGES AND CONTRIBUTIONS
Brian E. Cooksey
Mr. and Mrs. Greg Greeson
The following contributors provide for Hamilton Medical Center
through their sustaining support of the Westcott Fellowship, Westcott
Association, Hamilton Business Alliance, Hamilton Club, or other
special projects.
Warren and Patti Coppedge
Mr. and Mrs. J. David Gregg
Cornerstone Community Bank
Mark and Lucy Griffin
Cowan Law Firm, LLC
Mr. and Mrs. Carl L. Griggs, Jr.
Mac and Margaret Crow
James and Dorthy Grimes
Mr. and Mrs. Terry Cullifer
Ed and Brenda Guinn
Mel and Gretchen Abernathy
Eric and Kim Brown
Dalton Box
Cora Hackney
Mr. and Mrs. William L. Adams
John and Lee Ann Brown
Dalton Utilities - Optilink
Bryan and Donna Hair
Blake and Jill Adcock
Susan and Rick Brown
Lee and Patricia Daniel
Ellen Hair
Mr. and Mrs. Don W. Adcock
Kevin and Cindy Brunson
Bruce and Kitty Davies
Ruth Lee Hair
Dr. and Mrs. Ezad Ahmad
Chris and Robyn Bryant
John and Olga Davis
Dr. and Mrs. Ian Hamilton
Alliance National Bank
Mark B. Bubes
Brad and Diane DeLay
James A. Hammack
Jerry and Elizabeth Arnold
Chris and Carol Bunch
Displaycraft, Inc.
Don and Debra Haney
Lucena and Tom Ault
James and Sally Burran
Mr. and Mrs. Roger Burt
Mr. and Mrs. Charles
N. Dobbins, Jr.
Mieke DeClerck Hanssens
Gene and Debbie Autry
BB&T
Burtco Enterprises
Dorsett Industries
Dr. and Mrs. Anthony R. Harbin
Terry and Mary Baker
Bill and Carol Burton
Phyllis Ball
Alan and Dena Buttenhoff
B. Jackson Bandy
David and Cindy Cady
Bank of America
Herman and Pat Caldwell
Andy and Patsy Bargeron
Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Cantrell
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bartley
Dennis and Stephanie Carney
Tim and Cheryl Baucom
Marc and Penny Carpenter
Beamer Sunday School Class
Dr. and Mrs. D. Stephen Carson
Beaulieu Group
Stan and Marcia Casteel
Allen and Sarah Bentley
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Chandler
Ken and Pam Bevil
Bill and Bennieta Chappell
Dr. and Mrs. William M. Blackman
Roger Cheek
Mr. and Mrs. John Paul Bledsoe
Scott Chitwood
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Boe
Tommy and Jane Boggs
Mrs. John L. Bond
Charles E. Bowen
Mr. and Mrs. John S. Bowling
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Boyd
William T. Boyett, MD
Mr. and Mrs. Werner Braun
Mr. and Mrs. Steven
P. Bridenstine
Charles and Wanda Brock
Greg Brock
Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Brooker
Brown-Whitworth Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Earl R. Brown
Ruth Chen
Craig and Gail Clark
Jimmy and Betty Ann Clark
Mike and Clara Clark
Mike and Dixie Clark
Charles and Bernita Cofield
Cohutta Banking Company
Mr. and Mrs. James Coker
Coldwell Banker Kinard Realty
Allen and Bobbye Cole
Beverly Cole
Mr. and Mrs. William L. Duffie
Joe and Sandy Duncan
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Dunn
Stan and Dana Easley
Scott and Barb Edens
William and Patricia Edwards
Rodger and Lynda Eidson
Howard and Sandy Elder
S. G. and Judy Elliott
Betty Ellis
James and DeLyn Ellis
Mr. and Mrs. Jim G. Elrod
Gerald and Ava Embry
Alan and Brenda Ensley
Rob and Nancy Estes
Ray and Marcia Evans
Bob Fallis
John David and Cathy Ferguson
David and Molly Finley
First Bank of Dalton
Buford Floyd
Mr. and Mrs. Randall Foster
Dr. and Mrs. Richard F. Fromm
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Gates
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Collier
Eric and Zena Gibson
Mr. and Mrs. Robert
J. Combs, Sr.
Brent and Synnova Goodge
Randy and Pat Gordon
Mr. and Mrs. W. Daniel
Combs, Sr.
Dr. and Mrs. Larry T. Grant
James and Starr Hanson
Robert and Elizabeth Hardaway
C. Frank Hawkins, Jr.
Carl F. Hawkins III
David and Kim Hawkins
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hawkins
Jim and Eilene Hazel
Terry and Patricia Headrick
Dwight and Sandra Hefner
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hendry
Brian and Teresa Henton
Margaret Herrin
Mr. and Mrs. Adam Holt
Mr. and Mrs. Tad Holtzclaw
Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Hopkins
Neil and Sara Houston
Mr. and Mrs. Gary L. Howard
Bob and Mary Hubbs
Hugh and Natalie Inglis
J & J Industries
Matt and Kimberly Jackson
Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Jenkins
Mike and Brenda Jolley
Fannie B. H. Jones
Charitable Unitrust
Dr. and Mrs. J.
Sherwood Jones, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. James G. Jones
Patrick and Kelly Jones
Mr. and Mrs. Tim Jones
Mac and Marion McIntosh
Professional Testing Laboratory
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Sweenie
Mr. and Mrs. William
F. Jourdain
Jimmy and Sandy McKenzie
Allene Pullen
Jerry and Trudy Swilling
M. Hubert Judd Trust
Medical Business Concepts
Dr. and Mrs. William
H. Pullen, Jr.
Eleanor Szollosi
Greg and Deborah Melton
Frances Purvis
Art and Mary Jane Taylor
James and Tammy Keen
Bernard and Martha Kenemer
Kyle and Jan Keys
Robert and Dixie Kinard
Blake and Laura King
Buddy and Elaine King
Mr. and Mrs. G. Jerry King
Ryan and Summer King
Steven Asa King
Mr. and Mrs. John Knight
Robert and Bernie Kokoszka
Steve and Bett Laird
Dr. and Mrs. Carlton Lancaster
Charles and Betty Langford
Ben and Lynn Laughter
Kay Lauman
C. S. and Pat Lee
Gordon and Bettye Leonard
James Lesslie
Tom and Elaine Leverrett
Mr. and Mrs. Hal Long
James and Vickie Long
Sharon Love
Shane and Melanie Lovingood
Mr. and Mrs. James
D. Lunsford, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Kent Lusk
Lyle Industries
Randy and Sharon Merritt
Martin and Cynthia Michaels
Barbara Miller
Mr. and Mrs. Clay Miller
Minor, Bell & Neal
Mr. and Mrs. John T. Minor III
Mr. and Mrs. John T. Minor IV
Dennis and Debbie Mock
Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Molsberger
Brian and Laura Moore
Kay Moore
Terry and Camilla Moore
Morehouse Group
Kendall Tate
Quality Connections
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Teel
John and Patricia Quarles
Coy and Noel Temples
Rodney Quarles
Textile & Industrial Sales
Ron and Susan Ralston
Henry and Julie Tharpe
Frank and Teresa Ray
The Dixie Group
Dennis and Anne Reagan
Mr. and Mrs. Ondray Thomas
Dewey and Susan Reams
Mr. and Mrs. James R. Reich
Thomas and Pearl Rennie
Jeff and Leslie Myers
Mr. and Mrs. Rick Myers
NAMSB Foundation, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. John P. Neal III
Mr. and Mrs. Zack Norville
Novo Nordisk, Inc.
Oliver F. Cobb & Associates
OMNOVA Solutions
John and Linda Oxford
Michel and Pamela Pare’
Emily Earle Parham
Mr. and Mrs. William L. Rice
Craig and Nell Vaughn
Brooks and Glenda Rizer
Luis and Ann Viamonte
Mike Rizer
Wachovia Foundation
Stephen and Carolyn Roan
Mr. and Mrs. Allen E. Ward
Leta Faye Roberts
Robert and Dorothy Weathersby
Carl and Carole Rollins
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Rowland
Milton and Mary Ryman
Dr. and Mrs. M. Aslam Sandvi
Sanofi-aventis US, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Alan P. Sellers
Cheryl Sherrill
Bryan and Amy Peeples
Reginald R. Sherrill, MD
Tom and Vickie Peeples
Mr. and Mrs. Peter R. Sigmon
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Maret
Mr. and Mrs. Allen
P. Petway, Jr.
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Simmons
Mr. and Mrs. Ross Maret
Terry and Lucy Phelps
Marketing Alliance Group
Greg and Beverly Phillips
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smalley
Lee and Elisa Martin
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Pierce
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Maybank
Lamar and Sara Pierce
Bryan E. McAllister
Pilot Club of Chatsworth
Mr. and Mrs. G. Douglas
Squillario
Michael and Kathy McAllister
Pine Grove Baptist Church
Jane P. Stanfield
Judy and Bucky McCamy
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Pinson
Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Starling
Jim and Susan McCormick
C. J. Poag Estate
Mr. and Mrs. William G. Steve
David and Cynthia McCreery
Dr. and Mrs. John F. Poehlman
Warren and Michele Stidham
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff McCurley
Jaime and Heather Ponce
Tommy and Barbara Stocks
Dr. and Mrs. William McDaniel
Steve and Donna Pound
Mr. and Mrs. Lester Strain
Joe and Ann McGuire
Will and Marla Pridgen
George and Phyllis Sutherland
Charles and Sarah Maret
Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Weiner
Lucille West
Mr. and Mrs. Lenard Whaley
Laura Sanders
Julius C. Shaw, Jr.
Bill and Renee’ Magee
Mike and Sandra Townsend
Robert and Arlene Varner
Robert and Jo Ringer
Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Chris Patterson
Jack Maeger
Jr. and Janie Townsend
Lynn and Linda Tunnell
Drs. Atul and Madhu Patel
Jim and Patti Lyons
Monte and Glenda Thornton
Gerald Tinson
Robert Rhodes
Mr. and Mrs. W. Scott Sellers
Mr. and Mrs. G. Lamar Lyle
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Thomason
Craig and Cindy Tidwell
Joel and Tracee Reynolds
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Morehouse Deb Richardson
John D. Richmond, M.D.
Morgan Keegan
Mr. and Mrs. J. Daniel Morgan
2 0 0 9 A n n u al Re p o r t
Joseph Decosimo and Company
Dixon and Bettie White
Mr. and Mrs. J. Steven White
Jeff and Clara White
Terri White
Linda Whittle
Keith and Lynn Whitworth
Tom and Gail Wiley
Mr. and Mrs. William G. Sloan
Dr. and Mrs. Charles M. Smith
Dr. and Mrs. William Snipes
Mr. and Mrs. David Wilkerson
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Williams
Mr. and Mrs. William J. Willis
Rosa E. Wilson
Windstream Communications
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Winter
Dennis and Karen Wisdom
Mr. and Mrs. C. Lamar Wright
Joe and Nanette Yarbrough
Jim Young, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Young, Sr.
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GIFTS OF REMEMBRANCE
The following contributors chose to honor or memorialize these
individuals with their donations to the Gifts of Remembrance
program. Those honored or remembered are listed in bold type.
Those making the donation are listed in lighter type.
In Honor
All Serving Our Country
Armed Forces
Eugene and Charlene Peters
Kenneth E. Boring
Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Riley
John S. Bowling
GA Association
of Healthcare Executives
Norman D. Burkett, Sr.
Mr. and Mrs. John T. Minor, III
Dallas Clark, Sr.
Lucy Clark
CPL. Barron H. Evans
Betty Evans
Mary Alice Kinney
Idawee Bowen
Wilburn Loughridge
Eva Loughridge and Bruce
Beth Lunsford
David Lynn Stancill
Maggie Stancill
Sarah Kate Tidwell
Whitfield Healthcare Foundation
Z. S. Norville
CPL. Raymond W. Yancey
Betty Evans
Robin Gent Bishop
Dr. and Mrs. Paul L. Bradley
James M. Boring, Jr.
BB&T – Wealth Management
John and Becky Bowling
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Broadrick
Calderwood Friends
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Chandler
Jack and Peg Dwyer
Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Riley
John and Angela Shaheen
Jane and E. Dean Smith, Jr.
George and Rhenda Spence
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Varner
D. M. Bowen, Jr.
Ivan O. Strain
Florence Brent
M. K. and Sarah Lusk
John Tice
Stanley Bridges
Kathryn Bridges
Carolyn Brown
George Clay
Cassandra Edwards
Charles Brown
George Clay
Cassandra Edwards
Lucille Brown
Judith Enck
Richard Burnette
Opal Burch Defore
Bob and Lester Burch
James and Carol Burch
Willene Burch
Dimple and John Casey, Jr.
Dimple Cook
Charles Dunn
Royal Oaks
Claire Dyer
Dale and Sharon Ballinger
Louise Eddings
Royal Oaks
Howard Dean Escue
William and Alice Elliott
Gordon Flowers
Robert L. Burchfield
Farris and Barbara Ann Haynes
Robbie W. Fowler
Bobbye F. Harris
Shirley Blaylock Gregory
Barbara Hennon
Mildred Marie Guinn
Ethel Hall
Marie Hall
Pauline Hall
Dartha Henderson
Emmett Henton
Debra and Chuck Harris
James Wright Hill
Donna Hill
Peter Andersen
Scott and Betty Andersen
Tommy Cecil Clark
Odetta Howard
Timothy R. Howard
Dorothy Ashlock
Royal Oaks
Ollie Cleghorn
Royal Oaks
William H. Howard
Charles and June Hendry
Sharon Love
Stuart and Bitsy McFarland
Darrell and Patsy Ogles
Dennis and Anne Reagan
Royal Oaks
Julia Mac Conner
Earl Bennett
Royal Oaks
Emma Currie
Patricia Wild
Cheyenne Presley Koger
Sims Lambert
Royal Oaks
Henry McFarland LaRue
Royal Oaks
J. R. Ledford
Virginia Ledford
Bradley L. Carter
Dorothy Carter
Ruby Bates
Faye Martin
John Klip
Lynne McClure
Royal Oaks
LouAnn Warren
Hazel Hasty
Sharon Love
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McCamy
Betty Sponcler
Myron Holmes
Mason and Lisa Wood
Donald Collins
Jackie Collins
Valentine Klein
Sharon Love
Royal Oaks
Patricia Wild
James Leake
Royal Oaks
Kevin Edward Holmes
Brenda Holmes
Earl Ball
Royal Oaks
Sarah King
Perry and Doris Cox
Faye Dyson Chapman
Debra Dyson
Frances Dyson Ferguson
Travis and Frances Grayson
Gerda H. Green
Grove Level Baptist Church
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold S. King
Jack Posten
Julian and Anita Saul
Peggy Stuttaford
Jeff A. Harris, Sr.
Sharon Harris
Jimmie Ruth Canino
John and Peggy Campbell
Royal Oaks
In Memory
Mr. and Mrs. Ottis Akins
Maggie Stancil
Todd Keiser
Royal Oaks
Jane Hurt
Tancred Lidderdale
Jacqueline Phillips
Pat Reading
Jerusha Long
Sharon Love
Celia Looper
Royal Oaks
Caroline Lorberbaum
Peggy Jonas
Charles E. Lorberbaum
Mary M. Brown
Philip and Wanda Brown
Charles and Bernita Cofield
Royal Oaks
Alice Mahvi
Royal Oaks
Eva Dismukes Smith McCamy
Missy McCamy Phillips
Patricia McCoy
Terry and Ann Stinson
Bob Rollins
Johnnie Bakkum
Bill Seward
Peggy Seward
1st Lt. James A. McFarland
Gertrude McFarland
Dorothy Schucker
Royal Oaks
Donald Hugh Slappey, Sr., MD
Royal Oaks
Earl T. McGhee, MD
Charlotte Kinney Seay
Don and Diane Adcock
Charles and Laura Allgood
Joan Anderson
Don and Sandy Bagley
Randy and Beth Beckler
Judy Bogozan
Harriette and Joe Bowen, Jr.
Dan and Lynn Bruner
Norman and Bobbie Burkett
Stan and Sylvia Carlson
Chuck Collins
Robert and Darline Dinges
Glenn Ecker
Diane S. Evans
Judy Garner
Ralph and Martha Horn
Gary and Janie Howard
Charles and Janice King
Harold and Kay King
Norris and Billie Little
Truett and Cynthia Lomax
Sharon Love
Eric Melville
Merck Partnership for Giving
Charles and Sara Miller
Erwin Mitchell
James and Donna Nichols
Heather O’Connor
Jim and Caron Peavy
Jimmy Pittman
James A. Redfearn, MD
Lois Robinson
Julian and Anita Saul
Donald Seay
Kevin and Amy Seay
Allen and Adriane Seymour
JoAnn Silva
Bal and Josie Villanueva
Judi, Les and Hazel Ward
Mary Lee Williams
Ruth Zimmerman
Raymonia Spivey
Royal Oaks
Lisa Morgan
Dianne and T. J. Hardie
Jerrie Morton
Troy Moses
Barbara Barber
Harold Nave
Mike and Dixie Clark
Marcia Nix
Barbara Barber
Chris and Jenny Cantrell
Carl and Brenda Collins
J. W. and Mary Dell Collins
Hazel and Claude Nix, Sr.
Joseph N. Ogles
Sharon Love
Zennlee Patterson
Paul E. Payne
Rick and Joyce Byers
Ruby Peters
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Peters
Betty Powell
Marcia Falconer
Bill Rice, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. James R. Reich
Bert Richardson
Sharon Love
Ethel Rittenhouse
Royal Oaks
PRECIOUS ADDITIONS
The following contributors chose to commemorate the birth of a
loved one at Hamilton Medical Center. For a minimum gift of $50,
the child’s name is permanently placed on the Precious Additions
display in the Turner Maternal & Infant Care Center. Those
honored are listed in bold type.
Ernest Stanley
Gary and Jill Adams
Linda and Franklin Blalock
Mary Caylor
Foye L. Clegg
J. C. and S.J. Duncan
Rick and Tara Dunn
Howard and Pat Franklin
Charles and Irene Godfrey
Dennis and Barbara Hooten
Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Johnson
Connie and Alton Key
Patsy Ogles
Leota and Wayne Rollins
J. T. and Carolyn Swisher
Mr. and Mrs. Norman B. Steele
Ella Jo Bowers
Willard Strain
Royal Oaks
Patricia Wild
Clint Swaney
Royal Oaks
Frances Swift
Sharon Love
Margaret Taylor
Warren and Patti Coppedge
Joe and Sandy Duncan
Gary and Janie Howard
Bill and Lori Jourdain
Bob and Charolette Keith
Sharon Love
2009 Annual Report
Mary Sue McDade
John and Terri Neal
The Shelby Peeples Family
LouAnn Warren
Eunice Thomason
Ralph and Mary Jo Broadrick
Charles Burns
Alyssa and Lawrence J. Delaney III
Truett and Cynthia Lomax
Morris and Mildred Massengill
Ila Jo Tice
John Tice, David & Melissa
Betty Walker
Swinton Walker
Beverly Westfall
Don and Diane Adcock
Betty Bredeson
Larry and Verna Carnes
William and Brooke Green
Harry and Lori Moyer
Richard Perryman
Dot Whaley
Jerome and Wilma Pritchard
Jack Whitlock
Royal Oaks
Thomas Williams
Louise Burns
Opal Lee Wilson
John Chafin
Karen and Felicia Hall
George Woodward, Sr.
Patricia Wild
Sara Wyatt
Royal Oaks
Carolyn Yarbrough
Wilton and Myrtie Collins
Tommy Eugene Parker
Tommy Parker
Jack Davis Swilling
Nathan Gregory Peeples
Jane and Julian Peeples
Karen Lynn Swilling
Kiersten Iyanna Luz Smith
Jim and Viola Smith
Kelsey Erin Swilling
Rylee Jane Brown
Eli and Brenda Carden
Bailey Beth Hawkins
Don and Diane Garland
Cole Everett Staten
Ed and Judy Staten
Payton Daniel Swilling
Kaila Lynn Gibson
Isaac Thomason Mantooth
Jane and Julian Peeples
Brady Keith Swilling
Sara Kate Tidwell
Gary Middleton
Kristen Leara Gibson
Caroline Nash Moore
Dr. and Mrs. Charles H. Herndon
David Keith Swilling
Zachary Lane Gibson
Addison Brooke Nichols
Bert and Deborah Watts
Hugh Lane Swilling
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The Whitfield Healthcare
Foundation Board of Trustees
The Whitfield Healthcare Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Hamilton Health Care System, is guided by
Chairman Bryan McAllister, and a board of trustees serving on one of six committees. Each committee
plays an important role in soliciting and cultivating gifts to the Foundation to improve the health care
system in our community. In addition, the following have been designated as Life Associates who provide
extraordinary service, support, and contributions to the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation: B. Jackson
Bandy, Kenneth E. Boring, Paul L. Bradley, MD, Norman D. Burkett, Sr., Carl L. Griggs, Sr., Charles W.
Hendry, G. Lamar Lyle, Mrs. James R. Reich, Robert E. Shaw, and Jackson P. Turner.
Don Adcock
Scott Allen
Murray Bandy
Cheryl Baucom
Allen Bentley
Pam Bevil
Ralph Boe
Jane Boggs
Brenda Brantley
Werner Braun
Kim Brown
Susan Brown
Jeff Browne
Judy Buchanan
Pat Caldwell
Tony Carroll
Roger Cheek
Mike Clark
Oliver Cobb
Bob Collier
Chuck Dobbins
Debra Dunn
Jim Elrod
Tony Elrod
Bob Fallis
J. T. Finley
David Gregg
Debra Haney
Suzanne Harbin
Brian Henton
Gary Howard
Bob Jenkins
Kelly Jones
Dixie Kinard
Rick Klein
John Knight
Bob Kokoszka
Jim Kortum
Steve Laird
James Lesslie
Hal Long
Shane Lovingood
Bee Maybank
Bryan McAllister
Clay Miller
Tom Minor
David Morgan
Jeff Myers
Rhett Orr
Bill Ponder
Will Pridgen
Dewey Reams
Tom Rennie
Brooks Rizer
Carolyn Roan
Kevin Sanders
Scott Sellers
Cheryl Sherrill
Pete Sigmon
Bill Sloan
Robert Smalley
Betty Sponcler
Alice Squillario
Trudy Swilling
Jeff Tatum
Henry Teel
Henry Tharpe
John Thomas
Steve White
Larry Winter
Jim Young
2 0 0 9 C O M M U N I T Y B E N E F I T R e p ort
Hamilton Health Care System’s
2009 Community Benefit Report
We in North Georgia are blessed with an abundance
of good things–rich natural resources, scenic splendor,
four beautiful seasons, and most importantly, some
of the nicest people you’ll meet anywhere. We are also
blessed with a health care system that continues
advancements for citizens of our region.
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At Hamilton, we consistently strive to provide the level of service that our patients and this community deserve and
expect. The following community benefit report highlights the progress we made in 2009 toward better serving our
communities. The report provides evidence that we’re fulfilling our mission statement, “to provide leadership that seeks
to meet area health care needs with services that advance the quality and dignity of life.”
Constantly Upgrading Our Services
Summary of Community Benefit
F i sca l Y e ar E n d e d S e p t e m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 0 9
Direct Patient Care
Cost of charity care
Uncompensated cost of Medicaid
Bad debt cost
Subtotal
$6,591,000
4,995,000
12,942,000
$24,528,000
Subsidized Health Services
Excluding Medicaid and Charity
Obstetric services
Hospice care
Home health services
Behavioral health services
Adult day care services
Subtotal
$1,495,000
1,572,000
994,000
1,188,000
221,000
$5,470,000
Since its inception, Hamilton has focused on providing the highestquality health care for the residents of northwest Georgia. The past
year at Hamilton has been one of great progress with advances in
technology and service to the community.
Hamilton invested more than $17 million in approved capital
upgrades in 2009. More than $11 million was invested in acquiring
new clinical and diagnostic equipment. Approximately $6 million was
invested in facilities enhancements.
In addition to capital improvements, Hamilton invested heavily
in its continued service to the Northwest Georgia region. In 2009,
Hamilton contributed nearly $32 million in service to the community
through direct patient care and a variety of education, screening, and
support activities.
Every year Hamilton provides vital
medical services to thousands of
patients without the means to
pay for the care they receive. This
“uncompensated care” is defined
as the sum of the health system’s
non-reimbursed services and charity
care of more than $24 million, plus
other below-cost payments of more
than $5 million.
$602,000
The privilege to serve all regardless
of their ability to pay remains a
cornerstone of Hamilton’s mission.
However, it demands fiscal
discipline and careful planning.
Convenient Care Services
491,000
New or Enhanced Services
Mobile health services
299,000
Support of Northwest Georgia
Healthcare Partnership
138,000
Clinical and community education
128,000
Community Health Services
Sports medicine
Low income residential services
Other miscellaneous services
50,000
291,000
Subtotal
$1,999,000
Total
$31,997,000
Hamilton Convenient Care
 Hamilton Convenient Care, a walk-in, no appointment
necessary, primary care clinic, was opened in March 2009 to
meet an identified need in the community for more access to
primary care. It is also designed to provide a more appropriate
level of care for individuals rather than the Emergency
Department for minor complaints. Convenient Care serves as a
resource for those who have limited access to primary care as
well as for those minor illnesses and injuries that need
prompt attention but are
not emergencies.
 Hamilton diagnostics
capabilities were greatly
enhanced with the addition
of two new open magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI)
units. One unit, installed
in March 2009, will serve
Open MRI
Community Program Participants
Dare to CARETake it to Heart 86
20
inpatients and the Emergency Department. A second unit,
installed at Hamilton Diagnostics Center in August 2009,
was Dalton’s first outpatient, open bore, 1.5 Tesla, MRI system.
Both systems combine a larger opening with the ability to
capture high-field, quality diagnostic images, increasing
both efficiency and patient convenience. The patient-friendly
design will accommodate larger patients and those with
claustrophobia and will also reduce the need to repeat and
interrupt exams.
 Hamilton Diagnostics Center also upgraded women’s
diagnostics capabilities with installation of the Mammotome
Breast Biopsy System. In the past, when a suspicious area
was detected on a mammogram, the diagnosis could only
be confirmed by surgically removing the tissue. With the
Mammotome, physicians can make a highly accurate diagnosis
of a breast abnormality without the need for open surgery.
Using advanced stereotactic imaging, the physician can
accurately guide a probe into a suspicious area of the breast
and gently collect the abnormal tissue through one small, ¼
inch incision. With the new system, a breast biopsy can be
performed in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia
thereby minimizing pain, scarring and recovery time.
 Hamilton Diagnostics Center also added The Lunar Prodigy
Advance DEXA scanner—the latest generation of technology
used to diagnose osteoporosis by measuring the mineral
content of the bones. Osteoporosis screening is recommended
by the World Health Organization as the best way to reduce
the risk of hip and spinal fractures often associated with
aging, and DEXA technology is relatively low cost and
exposes the patient to a minimal level of radiation, compared
to other methods of measuring bone mass. The Lunar Prodigy
Advance scanner is the first in this community to utilize a
direct-digital array detector and narrow-angle fan-beam
technology to enhance efficiency and precision in spine,
femur and total body measurements.
Joint Moves 50 12,805
 Hamilton is now among an elite group of hospitals offering
the latest in minimally invasive surgery with the daVinci®
Surgical Robot, featuring advanced 3-D visualization
capabilities. The robot filters out the slightest hand movement
and allows for amazing visualization of the surgical field. This
gives the surgeon the ability to perform minimally invasive
procedures with greater precision than ever before. The system
seamlessly translates the surgeon’s hand, wrist and finger
movements into precise, real-time movements of surgical
instruments inside the
patient. For the patient
this means smaller
incisions, less pain, less
blood-loss, and a shorter
recovery time. OB/GYN
surgeon Anthony Harbin,
MD, FACOG, performed
Hamilton’s first robotic
procedure on August 18.
 With the recent addition
of Hyperbaric Oxygen
Therapy, Hamilton
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Wound Care and
Hyperbaric Center
provides a mode of therapy in which the patients breathe 100%
oxygen at pressures greater than normal atmospheric pressure.
This is often effective with patients that have not responded to
conventional wound care treatment. The therapy works to increase
oxygen supply to the wound, which promotes formation of new
blood vessels, prevents edema, and inhibits microbial activity in
the wound.
Awards and Recognition
While providing the highest level of patient
care, Hamilton continues to achieve
awards, accreditations and national
recognition in a variety of areas.
 Hamilton Ambulatory Surgery
Center received the prestigious Summit
Award from Press Ganey Associates,
Inc. for the fourth year in a row. The
award recognizes top performing
facilities that sustain the highest level
of customer satisfaction for three or
more consecutive years. The Press
Ganey Summit Award is the health
daVinci® Surgical Robot
Health Fairs (29)
Kristi House, Director,
holds Summit Award
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271
Back on Track
care satisfaction industry’s most coveted symbol of achievement
bestowed annually, and Hamilton Ambulatory Surgery Center is
one of just 74 organizations in the nation to receive this prestigious
honor in 2009.
 HMC’s Chest Pain Center received full accreditation with
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) from the Accreditation
Review Committee in January 2009. PCI is the use of a balloon
catheter to widen blocked arteries and/or the placement of a stent
to hold these arteries open. The ability to provide this type of
treatment right here in Dalton was started in 2006.
 HMC’s Stroke Program was awarded the 2009 Silver Award in
Stroke Care from the American Stroke Association. The Stroke
Program was the first in North Georgia to be accredited and is one
of just 17 accredited programs statewide. HMC’s Stroke Program
focuses on rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients in
order to prevent as much damage to brain tissue as possible. As
part of this effort, HMC is also dedicated to educating the public
about the major warning signs of stroke, so they will seek medical
help as soon as possible after symptoms are detected.
 Murray Medical Center recently received the 2009 Leadership
Award for Clinical Excellence in Patient Experience from VHA Inc.,
a national health care alliance. This award honors hospitals that
meet or exceed national performance standards for clinical care.
 Hamilton Weight Management successfully completed a site
visit in May 2009, confirming our continuing designation as
a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. The Surgical Review
Corporation as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence first
designated the Center in 2005.
 Hamilton Long Term Care nursing centers, Quinton Memorial,
Regency Park, Ridgewood Manor, and Wood Dale continue
to provide important health and rehabilitation services with
the admission of nearly 600 patients and numerous facility
enhancements during 2009. The four centers are fully accredited
by The Joint Commission for Accreditation of Health Care
Organizations and are surveyed annually by the State of Georgia
with excellent survey results.
Hamilton Health Care System Statement of Operations
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2009
AMOUNT GENERATED FOR SERVICES AND PROCEDURES PROVIDED TO OUR PATIENTS AND RESIDENTS
$547,215,913
We were unable to collect these amounts for our patients covered by:
Medicare
Medicaid
Other private insurers
We wrote off this amount for patients who were unable to pay for their care
Total amount of uncompensated care
(151,256,512)
(58,350,940)
(42,944,211)
(62,225,526)
(314,777,189)
AMOUNT OF ACTUAL PAYMENTS RECEIVED FOR PATIENT CARE AND RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
$232,438,724
Unrealized gains on invested funds, net
Realized losses on invested funds, net
Amount of income we received from other sources
OUR TOTAL REVENUE FOR THE YEAR
20,546,308
(2,743,684)
6,375,756
$256,617,104
Amount paid to provide the nursing and support staff for our patients and residents
Amount paid for supplies, utilities, fees and other services
Depreciation
Our total costs for the year
119,798,813
93,615,723
14,196,962
227,611,498
DURING 2009, OUR TOTAL REVENUE EXCEEDED OUR TOTAL COSTS BY THIS AMOUNT
$29,005,606
DURING 2008, OUR TOTAL EXPENSES EXCEEDED OUR TOTAL REVENUE BY THIS AMOUNT
$1,559,917
Ask the Doctor:
Get to Know
Dr. Elam
Family: married with
two daughters
Hobbies: golfing,
exercising, and playing
Pain Management
with Hospice
If your loved one is faced with a terminal illness, hospice can provide the services
he or she needs to feel as comfortable as possible. Mark Elam, MD, FACP, Hospice
Medical Director at Hamilton Health Care System, is here to answer your questions
on the benefits of hospice.
the violin
Favorite cuisine:
Italian food
Favorite vacation spotS:
Italy and Scotland
Goals: I am very pleased
to work in hospice care,
which is a valuable service
to our community. My
goals for the future are to
pursue additional training
in hospice care to include
board certification and
to continue my volunteer
efforts in the community.
Q: For patients at the last stage of life, what are
some ways hospice care can help control their
symptoms of pain?
Dr. Elam: Our physicians and nurses are
specially trained in managing pain and other
symptoms associated with a serious illness. A
multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses,
social workers, chaplains, and bereavement
specialists work together to ensure this difficult
time is as comfortable as possible for both
patients and families.
Q: My mother’s physician has mentioned
hospice to us, but I thought hospice was only
for people who were dying of cancer. Does my
mother really need hospice?
Dr. Elam: There is a big misconception that
hospice care is only for those with terminal
cancer. This just isn’t the case. A significant
number of patients benefit from hospice care for
reasons other than cancer, including emphysema,
congestive heart failure, renal failure, end-stage
dementia, and other forms of serious illnesses.
Q: My father is in an assisted living facility. Can
he still receive hospice?
Dr. Elam: Yes. We provide care at assisted living
facilities, in long-term care facilities, or at home.
Our hospice team will arrange for regularly
scheduled visits, and patients have access to
on-call nurses 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
We also offer patients assistance with personal
care and/or homemaking services.
Q: Is hospice covered by insurance?
Dr. Elam: A variety of hospice care payments
are available, including Medicare, Medicaid, and
private insurance. We accept patients into the
hospice program based on need, without regard
for ability to pay.
To learn more about hospice services at
Hamilton, visit hamiltonhealth.com or call
706.278.2848.
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t
r
a
e
H
A
Full of Hope
Instead of buying dolls or teddy bears for their daughter’s
approaching first birthday, Tammy and Gene Madden
were anxiously waiting to find Megan a new heart.
Zane Thompson, MMC Lab Technologist, and Megan have a special bond.
At 11 months old, Megan was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy—a
severe heart disease in which the heart muscle becomes inflamed
and stops working properly. Physicians somberly told the Maddens
that their daughter only had just hours to live.
“After 17 years of trying to have children, my husband and I were
completely devastated to hear this news,” says Tammy. “A heart
transplant was her only chance of survival.”
Megan was immediately put on a waiting list in Atlanta for a heart
transplant. But with the odds already so heavily against her, finding
a heart appropriate for a baby in a seemingly impossible window of
time felt unattainable.
A Change in Events
With the family gathered and grieving as baby Megan was
resuscitated multiple times throughout the night, the Maddens
were called into a room to speak in private. Already prepared for the
worst, the Maddens sat down and braced themselves for the news.
A Continuum of Care
Though Megan’s new heart gave her another chance at life, there
are still complications and everyday obstacles she must face.
“The medication Megan must take to keep her body from rejecting
her new heart has to be closely monitored on an ongoing basis,”
says Danny Wright, Director of Hospital Services at Murray Medical
Center (MMC). “The laboratory at Murray Medical Center provides
regular blood sample collection services for Megan, which keeps
her and her family from having to take frequent trips to Atlanta.
With Megan’s constant smile and sunny personality everyone
enjoys her visits.”
Tammy says she cannot thank the lab team at MMC enough for
everything they have done—and continue to do—for Megan.
“Due to Megan’s medical challenges, it’s dangerous for her to get
sick,” says Jason Jackson, Laboratory Manger at MMC. “Because
of this, we sometimes make trips to her house to collect samples so
she doesn’t have to get out and risk exposure to infection.”
“They found Megan a new heart and were going to perform the
transplant the following morning,” says Gene. “We couldn’t believe
the incredible news.”
As Megan grows, it’s a comfort for the Maddens to know that MMC
will continue to meet her needs.
Eight years later, Megan is the center of their world. The Maddens
are able to look back on that life-saving surgery and smile into a
bright future with their beautiful miracle child, Megan.
To learn more about laboratory and other services offered
through Murray Medical Center, visit murraymedical.org.
“Not only is it wonderful to have laboratory
services through Murray Medical Center close
to home, the lab team has never treated our
daughter, Megan, like a patient once in her life,
but like `a family member instead.”
— Tammy Madden, mother of Megan, young heart transplant patient
Strawberry Angel Cake
This heavenly dessert is a great end to a meal or even an afternoon snack.
Try this quick and easy recipe for its melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
Ingredients
Nutritional Facts (per serving)
1 can (21 oz.) strawberry pie filling
Serving: 1 piece
1 package (16 oz.) angel food cake mix
Calories: 185
Non-stick cooking spray
Fat Calories: 2
Whipped topping
Total Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Directions
Combine pie filling and cake mix.
Spread evenly in 13” by 9” baking pan
coated with non-stick cooking spray.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until
cake springs back when lightly touched in
the center. Garnish with whipped topping.
Sodium: 261 mg
Carbohydrates: 43 g
Sugars: 15 g
Protein: 3 g
{
Submitted by Erica Jones,
RN, LD at the Bradley
Wellness Center.
}
Serves 12.
Donate Life
Through Organ & Tissue Donation
Thousands of Americans are in need of
life-saving organ transplants, and scores
more are awaiting life-enhancing tissue
transplants. For many, the chance to
live a full life won’t come unless many
more people consider organ and tissue
donation. Everyone can indicate their
intent to donate—even persons under
18 years of age as long as the parent or
guardian supports their decision.
One organ and tissue donor can
potentially help as many as 60 people.
Organs that can be donated for
transplantation include the heart, liver,
lungs, kidneys, pancreas, and intestines.
Tissues that can be transplanted include
the skin, bone, corneas, and heart valves.
It is the donor families that are the
true heroes.
Megan’s Mom
Keeps a Diary
12-23-02
The doctors are saying they have done all
they can do for Megan. She needs a heart
transplant and there is not one available.
2-20-03
The results are back…there is nothing that
can be done surgically, so a transplant is the
only option. Megan is put on the Donor’s List.
3-7-03
They found a heart for Megan last night. It is
a perfect match… they ask that you not only
pray for Megan but for the family that lost
their precious child and donated his or her
heart so that Megan can live.
Megan is out of surgery. Everything is
looking great.
3-14-03
Little Megan has no rejection of the heart.
The Piedmont Transplant Institute, a service of Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, recently located a new
satellite clinic on the campus of Hamilton Medical Center. The clinic will help locate and educate dialysis
patients about the benefits and options for transplantation. It will also be convenient for area kidney
or pancreas transplant patients to receive pre- and post-operative care, since about half of Piedmont
Hospital’s transplant patients come from outside the Atlanta area.
For more information on the Piedmont Transplant Institute or the new satellite clinic, call 888.605.5888.
Tammy, Megan, and Gene Madden
5-9-03
Megan arrived home. Friends and family
released 147 balloons into the air—one for
each day since Megan became ill.
How Donation Works
It’s simple for an individual to become a
potential donor. First, obtain the facts.
Second, make a decision. Third, sign up
on the Donor Life Georgia registry at
donatelifegeorgia.org and tell your family.
For more information about organ and
tissue donation, contact LifeLink’s Public
Affairs Department at 800.544.6667
or visit lifelinkfound.org to sign up for
“Donate Life Georgia.”
20
|
21
Susie Messer holds a prom picture
of her and husband Chris,
her high school sweetheart.
Susie’s
Inspiration
The following interview took place in February
2010. Sadly, Susie Messer lost her battle with cancer
on just before this article went to print. This story
meant a lot to Susie and it was her wish that it be
printed even if she did not live to see it. Her hope
was that it would inspire other women to take
control of their health, see their health care provider
regularly and have the recommended screening
tests. Susie’s faith remained strong to the end. In her
own words, “No matter what you’re going through,
just pray and hold on to your family.”
“I know I neglected my own health,” Susie confessed.
“I didn’t take time to get regular check-ups.
” In October 2008 Susie went to the health
department for a Pap test—her first in 10 years—and
the results revealed cervical cancer. Within a month
she underwent a radical hysterectomy. In spite of
Susie and Chris’ hopes, three months later the cancer
showed up elsewhere.
Susie was devastated but determined to fight. She
began aggressive chemo and radiation treatments
at Hamilton’s Regional Cancer Institute. According
to Susie, “The staff at the cancer center became like
family to us. I still keep in touch with many of them.”
This past Fall Susie spent three weeks at Hamilton
as an inpatient. During that difficult time she
celebrated both her 35th birthday and her 18th
wedding anniversary.
“I was blown away at what the nurses did for me,”
Susie smiled. “On my birthday they brought me
balloons. A week later when they found out it
was our anniversary they arranged a romantic,
candlelight dinner for Chris and me. It was so
special for both of us.”
Susie Messer and
her husband, Chris,
enjoy a birthday
and anniversary
celebration thanks to
a group of nurses at
Hamilton’s Regional
Cancer Institute.
Susie grew up with dreams much like any other
young girl. One dream came true earlier than
expected when she married her high school
sweetheart, Chris, on November 4, 1991.
“I was just 16 years old when we married,” recalled
Susie, “but I finished high school.”
The couple worked hard together to make a home for
themselves and their growing family. Susie always
enjoyed working with her hands. “We did a little bit
of everything; remodeling, construction work, and
mowing yards.” Between work and caring for their
three children, Josh, Valarie, and Tiffany—now 17,
14 and 11 respectively—Susie had very little time to
take care of herself.
When Susie left the hospital after 21 days, the
nursing staff rolled her down a “red carpet” made
of plastic garbage bags and threw cotton ball
“confetti” to celebrate her going home. “She was the
kind of person that touches your soul,” said patient
advocate, Ashley Hasty.
Even though her final days were difficult, Susie
desperately wanted this story published so that
women would be motivated to take care of their
health. “I want to warn women to not neglect their
health. Get your checkups and Pap smears regularly.
If I had done that I could have probably avoided all
that I’ve been through.”
Support Groups
Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 1 pm Mon/
Wed/Fri and 8 pm Mon/Thurs/Sat at Hamilton
Westcott Center. The Westcott Center is located at
Hamilton Medical Center on Burleyson Road. Call
706.272.6480 for directions.
Cancer Support Group meets the third Thursday
of the month at 10 am–11 am in the Judd Resource
Center. Directions and information on additional
support groups can be obtained from Hamilton
Regional Cancer Institute. Contact the Nurse
Navigator at 706.272.6402. Next meeting will be held
May 20.
Gastric Band Support Group meets at 6 pm the
first Tuesday of each month. Hamilton Weight
Management is located at 1109 Burleyson Road. For
more information call 706.272.6668. Next meeting
will be held May 4.
Hospice Bereavement Support Group meets at
1:30 pm the first Tuesday of each month in the Winkler
Building located at 1221 Elkwood Drive. For more
information call 706.278.2848. Next meeting
will be held May 4.
MMC–Diabetes Self-Management Program meets
once a month for two sessions. Session one is 8
am–2:30 pm. Classes are held in Murray Medical
Center’s Conference Room. For more information call
706.272.6079. Next meeting will be held May 18.
Health Awareness
April
Alcohol Awareness Month
SAMHSA’s National
Clearinghouse for Alcohol
and Drug Information,
ncadi.samhsa.gov
National Donate Life Month
lifelinkfound.org
Occupational Therapy Month
American Occupational Therapy
Association, aota.org
March for Babies
March of Dimes Foundation,
marchforbabies.org
May
Mental Health Month
Mental Health America,
mentalhealthamerica.net
National Arthritis
Awareness Month
arthritis.org
National Osteoporosis
Awareness and
Prevention Month
National Osteoporosis
Foundation, nof.org
Melanoma/Skin
Cancer Detection and
Prevention Month
American Academy of
Dermatology, aad.org
American Stroke Month
American Heart Association,
americanheart.org
Calendar of Events
April
Ladies Night Out April 22
706.272.6114
Type 1 Diabetes Support Group meets at 5:30 pm
quarterly in the Hamilton Diabetes and Nutrition
Center’s classroom located at 1109 Burleyson Road.
For more information call 706.272.6079. Next
meeting will be held June 15.
Joint Moves
706.272.6114
April 26
Type 2 Diabetes Support Group meets at 2 pm
quarterly in the Hamilton Diabetes and Nutrition
Center’s classroom located at 1109 Burleyson Road.
For more information call 706.272.6079. Next
meeting will be held May 4.
Bill Gregory May 1
Health Care Classic
Northwest Georgia
Healthcare Partnership
706.272.6013 or
nwgahealthpartners.org
Surgical Weight Management–Information
Seminar meets at 6 pm the second Thursday of each
month at Hamilton’s Brown Conference Center. For
more information call 706.272.6668 or toll free at
1.866.552.SLIM(7546). Next meeting will be held
May 13.
March of
Dimes Walk
706.272.6493
May
Joint Moves
706.272.6114
Dare to C.A.R.E.
706.272.6114
TBA
May 8
Joint Moves
706.272.6114
TBA
Take It to Heart
706.272.6114
TBA
Camp Sweet
June 10 & 11
Control
Children ages 6-14
Diabetes and Nutrition Center
706.272.6079
Parents of June 11
Diabetic children – seminar
Diabetes and Nutrition Center
706.272.6079
Kids Camp
June 14-17;
Bradley Wellness Center 21-24
706.278.9355
July
May 10
June
Back on Track
TBA
706.272.6114
Kids Camp
July 12-15;
Bradley Wellness Center 19-22
706.278.9355
22
|
23
24 506
Hamilton Health Care System Inc.
O M ZIP CO
DE
M AILED
FR
Nonprofit Org
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 830
PO Box 1900 • Dalton, GA 30722-1900 • hamiltonhealth.com
Hamilton Convenient Care

Story in Hh Spring 2010

Transcription

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