Spirits - Holston Medical Group

Winter 2013, Vol. 1, Kingsport, Tennessee
In this Edition...
HMG employees extend
compassion to those in
need, right here in the
Tri-Cities and across
the globe.
... and many more ways HMG
is “making spirits bright”...
Holiday Edition
Our Gift to you.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across
the waters to create many ripples.”
The truth of this sentiment rings throughout Holston Medical Group in the lives of our providers
and employees who give selflessly of their time, whether volunteering within our own backyard,
or traveling to faraway lands to aid those in need. The stones they cast across the waters touch
countless lives, including ours, as they inspire us to do the same.
Within this issue of the Health Line, we invite you to learn of the encouraging stories of those
within our HMG “Family of Care” who are creating ripples, and “making spirits bright” this joyful
Christmas season.
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Photo by David Grace
Kingsport Times News
The Gift of a warm meal.
For HMG physical therapy technician Deana West, volunteering at the “Kitchen of Hope” in Kingsport,
Tennessee, is just part of life and what she believes she is expected to do as a Christian. Active through
her church, Saint Matthew United Methodist in Kingsport, Deana has been a team volunteer for nearly
17 years, and she explains that the experience allows her to share the love of Jesus Christ with others.
Kitchen of Hope is located on East Sevier
Avenue in downtown Kingsport in the
basement of Full Gospel Mission Church and
operates under the direction of Pastor Geraldine
Swagerty and her husband. Hot meals are
served in the fellowship hall every Monday
through Saturday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Years ago, Deana learned of the ministry
through someone in her congregation. She
became involved as a member of her church’s
cooking team, which prepares meals on
Saturdays. Deana’s team cooks about every
eight weeks, and it is one of the larger teams
from her church, which also includes teens.
“They cook down there [at Kitchen of Hope] six
days a week…, and they have volunteer teams
that come in daily and cook a meal,” explains
Deana. “We cook, and people come in who need
a hot meal…, and there are no questions asked. We fellowship, serve and pray with them.”
The ministry is close to Deana’s heart, and her husband, Gary, has also been involved since the
beginning of their marriage 15 years ago.
“At some point, it could be me [needing a hot meal], says Deana. “I like to serve, and hopefully, they see
Jesus through us, and that’s really what it’s all about.”
Deana has been with HMG for more than twelve years, and she also serves on the HMG activities
committee. When her co-workers heard about her passion, they selected Kitchen of Hope as the
recipient of money from HMG Denim Days, where employees contribute dollars to wear denim to work
on select days, and the money goes to specified charities for unrestricted use.
Deana West, Kitchen of Hope
Over the years, the Kitchen of Hope has presented opportunities for Deana to pray with others. Prayers
revolve around marriages, families and jobs. Deana says she prays with visitors to Kitchen of Hope about
the very same things she prays about.
“It doesn’t happen every time, but people have come up to me and said, ‘Can you pray for me,’” explains
Deana. “So, then we go off to a corner, and if they are willing to tell me why, I listen. We specifically pray
for them, and I invite them to church.”
The Kitchen of Hope operates under restaurant specifications, and everything has to meet code. Often,
this poses a financial strain, and donations are always welcome. Often, as many as 100 people are fed on
any occasion at the ministry.
“You never know how many will come, but one time, my team had over 150 people to serve,” says
Deana. “The neat thing about that time was we made homemade vegetable beef soup and homemade
cornbread, and it seemed like every time we went back to the pot to refill the serving buffet, the level
of the soup NEVER went down. Our team talked about that and how we thought God was supplying us
with what we needed.”
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The Gift of hope.
Often referred to as the “verse lady,”
Wanda Burke has worked at the
front desk at the HMG Outpatient
Diagnostic Center at Sapling Grove
for seven years, and she regularly
shares scripture verses with patients.
However, what she also views as a
true calling is the volunteer service
she and husband, Randy, provide
through a ministry called T.R.A.S.H.
According to Wanda, T.R.A.S.H. originated in Collinsville, Virginia,
and is an acronym meaning “Totally Redeemed Anointed Servants
of the Most High.”
“T.R.A.S.H. is a biker ministry, and we actually got involved several
years ago,” says Wanda.
Although Wanda is not a biker herself, Randy is, and she always
rides behind him. Through their local chapter, Journeymen4Jesus,
the Burkes participate in the Lebanon/Abingdon area and are
involved with a detox ministry at The Laurels.
Every Monday night, the couple participates in meetings where
they share stories, including personal testimonies, and encourage
anyone dealing with addictions, depression or other issues, always
sharing that Jesus loves them no matter what has happened in life.
Wanda shares that she has been married three times, and each
husband was an alcoholic. This December, Randy will have been
sober for 14 years, and for four-and-a half years, he and Wanda
have been helping others by sharing their own stories and the
love of God.
“We go in as a group and tell our stories,” explains Wanda. “When
addicts realize that someone else has been there and done that,
and we don’t look down on them, judge or feel we are any better
than they are, they open up and respond,” explains Wanda.
According to Wanda, by the time the people they minister to have
come to a detox facility, ties with people in their lives have been
broken. They are just ready to know that somebody cares.
“We go in and tell them that we love them regardless of where
they have been and what they have done,” says Wanda. “But,
what’s even more important…is they realize God loves them,
and they have done nothing that is so bad or so wrong that God
cannot love them.”
Through T.R.A.S.H. Ministry, the Burkes have visited several
churches, including “Cowboy Church,” which is held in the Comedy
Barn in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on Sunday mornings.
As one of the leading areas of the country for prescription
drug abuse, Wanda shares that it has been amazing seeing lives be
changed.
“We have seen God work some mighty miracles in the lives of
many people we have met that have been heavily involved in
drug and alcohol addictions,” explains Wanda.
“We’ve watched people quit their addictions based on Jesus
coming into their lives, and that’s been an amazing thing!”
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The Gift of compassion.
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For the past five years, HMG nurse practitioner Kristi
Cook has made an annual trip to the Roaring Creek
village in Belize, Central America. Her work with the
medical clinic there fulfills a lifelong desire to do
mission work, and when Kristi shares about her trips,
she exudes a passion that is simply contagious!
Originally, Kristi began going on the Belize trips
through Tri-Cities Christian Schools in conjunction
with Body and Soul Ministries. Both of her children
have also gone on the trips and so have her parents,
in-laws and many other relatives and friends.
Since Kristi has been going, her work has revolved
around providing medical care in the same village at
the same clinic, and she has developed relationships
with her Belize patients.
“It’s very nice because you see the same people, and
some of the same patients wait for me to come back every year,” explains Kristi.
“It’s really good because you get to know the people, what you can eat and
what you can do. So, you are comfortable, and it’s just really great.”
Although living conditions are very different than they are in this country, and,
admittedly, Kristi did initially worry about what she might encounter, she has
been relieved to discover that some of the “superbugs” in medicine are not even
an issue in Belize.
Kristi Cook, NP, providing care
to children in Belize.
“There, you do not have methicillin resistant staph,” says Kristi. You don’t have
all of the drug resistant bugs that we have over here. So, you can treat with
really low dose antibiotics and achieve really great success…”
Because she has been going for several years, Kristi has developed relationships with many of the
Belize families. One fall, the team met a family in desperate need of a home. Following the trip, the
group raised money, and that spring, they were able to take a team back to build the family’s home.
Kristi’s son, Alex, who actually plans to one day go to medical school, also
completed his eagle project through Boy Scouts on a trip to Belize.
For Kristi, helping people is the most rewarding part of her
mission work.
“In the United States, we have all become accustomed to
receiving convenient, quality healthcare, but the people of
Belize will wait for hours in the sun and never complain
because they are so happy to have healthcare,” explains Kristi.
“Most will go for months before they will have access again.
It’s just amazing at the graciousness that they have in their
hearts, and no matter how hard their life is, they are all
singing Jesus’ praises the whole time.”
This past August, Kristi and her HMG nurse, Shannon Jones,
actually made the trip for the first time with HMG
physician Dr. Joe Ley, and she is very appreciative of
the support extended from HMG. (continued)
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Kristi Cook, NP
The Gift
of believing.
The team has to be approved
by the Belize minister of health,
and they have to keep concise
records on patients seen during
a visit, which is typically about
eight days. Often, numbers can
be as high as 500 to 600 people in
four to five days at the clinic and
remote villages.
For HMG Nurse Manager Barsha Grant,
Santa letters are a special part of the
holidays! Years ago, what began as a
personal interest for her children, now 14,
21 and 22, today, is touching the lives of
many families.
At the clinic, about half of
the natives do speak English.
However, when they make
a remote visit, a translator is
required.
“Not only do we work in that
clinic on the compound, but
we will get approval from the
minister of health and go out to
a remote village like Armenia and
set up a clinic in a community
center or a small church,” explains
Kristi. “I love to do the remote
clinics because you are there in
the village with the people…”
Whether it’s annual physicals
or aging ailments such as high
blood pressure, it’s rewarding
for Kristi to annually see many
patients she has met and become
acquainted with over the years
in Belize.
Kristi also notes that education
in Belize is not free, so Body and
Soul Ministry was founded to
help secure sponsors for school
children. Personally, Kristi,
along with many of her family
members, has sponsored a family
that she is able to correspond
with and see on every visit.
“Sometimes you will see
someone who is going through
a really hard time, and you will
ask them if they know about
Jesus,” says Kristi. “The vast
majority often do. Mission work
is an amazing experience, and
the work is also very rewarding.
If anyone is interested in going,
feel free to contact me for
information. I love it!”
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“I actually used to do this for my kids,”
explains Barsha. “I couldn’t afford to
do one of those [Santa letters] out of a
magazine, so I just did it myself.”
Today, Barsha, along with HMG Assistant
Nurse Manager, Sherrie Quillen, operates Santa’s
special elves, Sherrie Quillen and Barsha Grant
as an official elf for ‘Ole Saint Nick! With
a special email form HMG employees complete, letters are personalized with names, a gift item and
much more. The endeavor totaled 150 letter requests last year, and that number doubled for the
special elves this year! In fact, from employees’ own children, to grandchildren, great grandchildren,
nieces, nephews and others, 321 HMG Santa letters were sent this year to homes throughout the
region and even to residences out of state.
In addition to Christmas toy requests, the template for Santa letters also includes a question
addressing personal behaviors, which might need some attention in the coming year on each
child’s part.
“We’ve gotten everything from ‘work on your grades,’ ‘work on cleaning your room,’ to ‘work on being
respectful,’ to ‘work on potty training or giving up your paci,’” says Barsha.
Barsha adds that the “pacifier template letter” includes a special request from Santa to pick up the
item for a new baby reindeer that really needs one at the North Pole.
Each Santa letter makes its way to the requesting HMG employee for special
delivery, and each comes with a red waxed stamp from the North Pole and
an “SC” stamp from Santa Claus!
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Alana and Porter Cross, children of HMG’s Amanda
Cross, enjoy thier letter from Santa.
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The Gift of intervention.
For HMG physician John Heise, MD, working with Comprehensive Community
Services (CCS) keeps him energized about intervening and helping turnaround
troubled teens’ lives.
“It’s (CCS) a local organization that deals with teens and adults with substance
abuse problems,” explains Dr. Heise. “Although there are outpatient facilities
across the region, the part that I am associated with is more of the confined
residential side.”
According to Dr. Heise, CSS is often the last stop for many adolescents before
going to juvenile court and jail. Some are actually there under court orders, and
treatment and counseling is generally from six to eight weeks.
Over the past 12 to 14 years, Dr. Heise feels his work and intervention with
adolescents has detoured many abusive situations with adolescents. Otherwise,
many would have followed a destructive path leading to a lifetime of abuse as
adults, which could ultimately lead to kidney failure, heart disease and death.
While this is a tremendous financial strain on the health system, it is also
straining to the legal and incarceration systems.
The CCS is also available as a voluntary service for adults. The facility
serves as an intermediary for adults who might otherwise be released
from a hospital situation without any outpatient and follow-up
intervention and continue old habits with alcohol and drug abuse.
Dr. Heise serves in an administrative and advisory capacity for CCS.
He also volunteers his expertise with individual adolescent assistance,
which can vary from a weekly contact to several times a week.
Dr. Heise first became interested in working with adolescents in 1991
while completing his fellowship in adolescent medicine. A lot of his
experience revolved around teens dealing with trauma, including
sexual abuse, eating disorders and drug and alcohol abuse.
“I’ve always had a calling to work with the teenagers,” explains, Heise. “The variety keeps me engaged
and involved. It is never routine.”
In recent years, Dr. Heise was actively involved with treating the use of bath salts in the region. He was
instrumental in assisting with the problem and implementing how to treat users. Today, the synthetic
drug he is currently fighting in teens is called “Molly” and gravel.
“There is always something new in a drug trend,” explains Dr. Heise. “In New York City, the teenagers are
snorting heroin. It’s a new trend that has not hit this area, but you have to be aware of it, so, if and when
it does, you know what to look for and how to treat it.”
For, Dr. Heise, his work with troubled teenagers has been rewarding, and he feels like it is a way to
positively impact the community.
“You can help redirect them and help them make better choices,” says Dr. Heise. “With adolescents, if you
can catch them early and re-guide them on their path, then they can have very successful, healthy adult
lives and become productive members of society.”
Anyone needing additional information about CCS may contact Mr. Stuart at 423-349-4070.
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The Gift of care.
As a traveling resource nurse with HMG, Heidi Emmert
sees all types of circumstances related to the health
field. Although she feels like the “health bug” has
always been in her, she has only been working for the
past two years as a licensed practical nurse (LPN), but
she knows it’s her calling.
After caring for a woman following a car accident
resulting in a traumatic brain injury, Heidi realized the
woman’s life situation was greatly improving with her
care as a personal assistant. Even though she had been
a certified health assistant in high school, Heidi had
never really thought about it as a career.
For more than three years, Heidi helped her friend from the
time she got up in the morning until late in the afternoon. She
assisted with all of her daily activities and even accompanied
the lady to doctors’ appointments and physical therapy sessions.
The experience introduced Heidi to her true gift as a caregiver,
and the two even became close friends. In the following years,
Heidi tried other occupations but finally went back to school to
become a licensed practical nurse.
Today, as a travel nurse, Heidi fills-in where needed throughout
the HMG family.
Quick Facts
$68,468
Appalachian Mountain Project Access (AMPA):
Dollars in services provided to AMPA by HMG providers.
42
Thanksgiving Boxes: Sponsored through Second Harvest
Food Bank
$21,500
Denim Days: The amount of money HMG employees and
providers raised for various area charities by paying
$5.00 on select Fridays to wear denim.
“The good thing is when you go into
an office where someone is out for the
day, they are glad to see you,” explains
Heidi. “They are shorthanded when I
arrive and always say they are thankful
I am there, and everybody always likes
to be appreciated!”
The variety offered by her work schedule has instilled a sense of
flexibility, which has allowed her to also be a valuable asset as a
camp nurse during the summer through her church.
For the past two summers, Heidi has served Celebration Church as
a camp nurse at Camp Placid, which is a Christian camping ministry
located in Blountville, Tennessee. Although camp is for an entire
week, Heidi still maintains her work schedule and also volunteers
as a camp nurse.
“I would leave from work and go straight to camp to administer
the dinnertime and nighttime meds,” explains Heidi. “I love the kids
because they are young and moldable, and it is very rewarding and
fulfilling.”
Heidi serves in the camp clinic under John and Jen Rice, who are
both registered nurses, as well as a group of physicians through
the church.
“We have several doctors that go to our church,” says Heidi. “So, we
have a plethora of knowledge that we can actually ‘tap-in’ to if we
need to.”
Heidi explains that camp is only one week a year, but the difference
she makes in children’s lives lasts long after the summer.
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HMGHealth Line 2
Scott R. Fowler, MD
President
Robert C. Lee, MD
Medical Director
Kellie Crowe
Editor
Myra Windle Danehy
Layout & Design
Leigh Anne W. Hoover
Contributing Writer
A publication for the employees and friends of:
Holston Medical Group
2323 N. John B. Dennis Hwy.
Kingsport, Tennessee 37660 • (423) 857-2000
www.holstonmedicalgroup.com