Caring People - PruittHealth

2014 Issue No. 1
Committed to Caring
Caring People
Remembering Scott Shull
Many who had the pleasure to meet
Mr. Scott Shull would argue that he was
perhaps the hardest working man that
they had ever met. His personality was
firm and focused, yet patient and kind,
and he was generous in sharing his vast
wealth of knowledge with others. When
you met Mr. Shull he projected an image
of what you see is what you get…he was
honest, he was real, he was himself –
refreshing and admirable qualities you do
not often see in others. Skilled in planning
and building, he was a craftsman both
in his professional life and in his hobbies
outside of work.
Scott began his career in healthcare
as a nursing home administrator with
experience in social work and retired
as Senior Vice President of Strategy
and Planning. During his twenty year
tenure with the PruittHealth family,
Scott was instrumental in growing our
organization from one with 14 skilled
nursing care centers to one with nearly
200 locations, providing a wide spectrum
of care services. His work enabled us to
begin serving short-term rehabilitation
patients through the Medicare program
and helped add additional services with
Part B billing. In 1992, he helped launch
United Hospice and administrered the
purchase of our first home health agency
continued on next page
In This Issue ...
GHCA RN of the Year
Pinnacle Award Winners
Tier IV - High Quality Honors
Letters of Appreciation
in 1999. He facilitated the start of our managed care service
lines, including the Georgia SOURCE program, and in 1998,
he also oversaw the creation of the PruittCares Foundation
(formerly the United Hospice Foundation). He facilitated dozens
of acquisitions, supervised the successful completion of many
construction and restoration projects, and was a mentor to all.
Mr. Shull’s hard work was exceptional and inspiring, and through
it, we are able to deliver quality care to tens of thousands of
patients in need.
A lover of nature and an avid woodworker, Scott was never
happier than when he could spend time with his sons and
grandchildren outdoors. His energy and discipline was
remarkable. He would get up before the sun, drive over an hour
to the gym, and still manage
to be one of the first ones in
the office. After a long day he
would happily switch out his
tie for a pair of blue jeans and
tend to the animals on his farm
in Watkinsville, GA. He was a
proud member of the United
States Marine Corps and a
veteran of the Battle for Khe
Sanh, continuing a tradition of
service that was later carried on by his two sons, Nathan and
Adam. Scott retired in March of 2012 in order to focus on his
health and spend time with his wife, Jennifer, and his family.
He fought an intense four year battle with cancer, once again
astonishing others with his strength and resilience, and was
laid to rest on Thursday, April 3, 2014.
Upon his retirement, a scholarship was established in his name
by the PruittCares Foundation so that others can experience
the profession that he spent so many years strengthening and
creating a lasting impact. Memorial gifts for Scott can be sent
to the Foundation to fund this scholarship in his honor.
www.pruittcares.org.
A New Era of Caring – PruittHealth
As we approach the 45th anniversary of the company’s history, it
is remarkable to see how a health care organization that started
with a few dozen patients and a single dream…has grown to
a family of providers with an extensive list of service offerings
and an army of staff who cares for and supports over 24,000
people each day.
care unsurpassed in many areas. We wanted to offer a clearer
picture of what we do and strengthen our identity to match
the power of our Commitment to Caring.
We are now PruittHealth – a quality-focused family of providers
who work together to care for you and your health.
Formerly known as UHS-Pruitt Corporation, PruittHealth
has locations spread throughout the southeast and provides
an interconnected web of health services. As new locations
were added over the years, it became increasingly difficult to
demonstrate that not only can we offer skilled nursing and
rehabilitation, but we can also a convenient transition to home
health, pharmaceutical and provide medical supply, or care
management services, to name a few.
Our name was changed this year to help our customers better
identify that we are an integrated provider with a model of
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GHCA RN of the Year
News & Notes
Carla Harris, RN and Director of Nursing Services for Christian City Rehabilitation
Center, was named the 2013 RN of the Year by the Georgia Healthcare Association.
Under Carla’s leadership, Christian City has noticed a tremendous improvement
in the quality of care provided, as evidenced by improved satisfaction surveys
and fewer complaint surveys. The center also received its first deficiency free
survey in the history of its 35 plus years, went from a One Star to a Four Star
Center, and was awarded the AHCA Bronze Quality Award. Excellent work, Carla!
Quality Driven & Deficiency Free
Congratulations to the following health care
centers that received a deficiency free annual
survey from July 2013 to March 2014:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
PruittHealth —
­ Crestwood
PruittHealth —
­ Sunrise
PruittHealth —
­ Sea Level
PruittHealth —
­ Fitzgerald
PruittHealth —
­ Fort Oglethorpe
North Carolina State Veterans
Home - Kinston
Sparks Inn at Christian City –
Assisted Living Center
The Oaks — Peake (Assisted Living)
The Oaks — Bethany (Assisted Living)
PruittHealth —
­ Bamberg
PruittHealth —
­ Blythewood
PruittHealth —
­ Brookhaven
PruittHealth —
­ High Point
BEST
NURSING HOMES
2014
Tier IV - High Quality Honors
PruittHealth – Washington, (Washington, GA) and PruittHealth – Savannah,
(Savannah, GA) were among several dozen centers across the nation that
received recognition for achieving national quality benchmarks unparalleled
by most. The American Health Care Association awarded these PruittHealth
locations for achieving the goals of all four of the national quality initiatives
for health care (Tier IV). These include: safely reducing hospital readmissions,
safely reducing the off-label use of antipsychotics, increasing staff stability, and
increasing customer satisfaction.
2014 US News & World Report
List of Best Nursing Homes:
• Christian City Rehabilitation Center
• Laurel Park
• North Carolina State Veterans Home –
Fayetteville
• North Carolina State Veterans Home –
Salisbury
• PruittHealth —
­ Barnwell
• PruittHealth —
­ Blue Ridge
• PruittHealth —
­ Crestwood
• PruittHealth —
­ Dillon
• PruittHealth —
­ Elkin
• PruittHealth —
­ Fort Oglethorpe
• PruittHealth —
­ Grandview
• PruittHealth —
­ Moncks Corner
• PruittHealth —
­ Old Capitol
• PruittHealth —
­ Santa Rosa
• PruittHealth —
­ Savannah
• PruittHealth —
­ Sea Level
• PruittHealth —
­ Shepherd Hills
• PruittHealth —
­ Valdosta
• PruittHealth —
­ Walterboro
• The Oaks ­— Athens (Skilled Nursing)
• The Oaks ­— Limestone
• The Oaks at Whitaker Glen Mayview (Skilled Nursing)
2 0 1 4 I S S U E 1 3
New Bern Elks Lodge #764
News & Notes
2013 GHCA Quality Award Winners
• PruittHealth —
­ Forsyth
• PruittHealth —
­ Jasper
On November 6, 2013, the PruittHealth Hospice
(New Bern) staff presented the New Bern Elks
Lodge #764 with a shadowbox containing coins
seized from Iraq. The shadowboxes are put
together by disabled persons with proceeds
benefiting families of fallen troops. Pictured is Nick
McFarren, Community Relations Representative
at the New Bern office.
• PruittHealth —
­ LaFayette
• PruittHealth —
­ Valdosta
• PruittHealth —
­ Washington
• Laurel Park
• The Oaks at Limestone
• PruittHealth ­— Magnolia Manor
• PruittHealth ­— Lanier
• PruittHealth —
­ Moultrie
2012 AHCA Quality Award Winners
Silver:
• PruittHealth ­— Santa Rosa
Bronze:
• North Carolina State Veterans
Home - Salisbury
• The Oaks at Whitaker Glen
• PruittHealth ­— Bamberg
• PruittHealth ­— Lanier
• PruittHealth —
­ Moncks Corner
Welcome to the Pruitt Family
We are proud to welcome the following
locations to our family of providers:
• PruittHealth —
­ Sea Level
• PruittHealth —
­ Marietta
• PruittHealth Hospice (Anderson)
• PruittHealth Hospice (Beaufort)
Safe Delivery
On February 12th, a day that
has been called the worst
snow day on record in years,
many nursing staff members
who deliver skilled nursing
and rehabilitation care at
PruittHealth – Lanier found
themselves stranded in their
own homes. With impassable
streets and dangerous
driving conditions, some of
the staff were unsure how
they would make it through
the ice and snow to help the 117 patients who receive care 24/7.
Eager to find a solution that kept everyone out of harm’s way, the center
called the Gwinnett County Police Department for their expert suggestions.
What they did not expect, however, was that the Department was more
than willing to personally provide
transportation for several members of
our staff. “We are extremely grateful for
our heroes who made several round
trip drives in vehicles with snow tires.
Our patients very much appreciated
their generosity,” said Admissions
Director Kanisha Dennis. “Together
we were able to continue providing
our residents with the quality of care
they deserve, while keeping everyone
safe and warm.”
• PruittHealth Home Health (Pilot Mountain)
• PruittHealth Home Health (Low Country)
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Home First Helps the Community & Donates to
A Worthy Cause
The Home First team held a community yard sale in Blue Ridge, GA to help
fund Camp Cocoon, a children’s bereavement camp held each August. The
project was a combined event with participations from Home First, PruittHealth
Community Services, skilled nursing centers, Home Health, and Hospice. In
addition to proceeds raised from the yard sale, a rocking chair and quilt were
raffled – courtesy of Home First CRR Marianne Tomashefski (right) who made
the quilt, and Home First Blue Ridge Administrator Jane Addison’s (left) husband
who made and donated the chair. These care champions are shown here with
volunteer Patricia Walker (center), Vice President of the PruittHealth Home First
program. Together the team raised approximately $900! Thank you to all who
made the event a huge success!
News & Notes
20134 Pinnacle Customer Service
Award Winners:
• Georgia War Veterans Home
• PruittHealth —
­ High Point
• PruittHealth —
­ Sea Level
• PruittHealth —
­ Dillon
• PruittHealth —
­ Farmville
• PruittHealth —
­ Pickens
• North Carolina State Veterans Home – Black
Mountain
• North Carolina State Veterans Home –
Fayetteville
• North Carolina State Veterans Home – Kinston
• North Carolina State Veterans Home – Salisbury
• Parkwood Development Center
• The Oaks ­— Bethany (Assisted Living)
• The Oaks ­— Peake
• PruittHealth —
­ Town Center
• The Oaks at Whitaker Glen
• The Oaks ­— Carrollton (Skilled Nursing)
• PruittHealth —
­ Bamberg
• PruittHealth —
­ Barnwell
• PruittHealth —
­ Blythewood
• PruittHealth —
­ Columbia
The administrative staff
of Laurel Park showed their
Commitment to Caring on
December 10th when they
hosted a holiday party for all of
the residents and their families.
The annual tradition included
dinner, entertainment, pictures,
and even a visit from Santa!
• PruittHealth —
­ Elkin
• PruittHealth —
­ Estill
• PruittHealth —
­ Moncks Corner
• PruittHealth —
­ North Augusta
• PruittHealth —
­ Walterboro
• PruittHealth —
­ Orangeburg
• PruittHealth —
­ Rock Hill
• PruittHealth —
­ Santa Rosa
• PruittHealth —
­ Ridgeway
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PruittHealth Hospice (New Bern) Honors Veterans
This past Veteran’s Day, staff and volunteers provided veterans and their families with small treat bags, a hearty thanks and
handshake for their service, and a chance to win a $50 gift certificate. Over 1200 treat bags were filled and given away! This project
was coordinated by several staff members of PruittHealth Hospice (New Bern), including Community Relations Representative
Mary Lou Infinito, Volunteer Coordinator Erin Stephenson, and Director of Health Services Dianne Brideson. Volunteers who
assisted with the project were Georgie Jackson, Nicole Edwards, Sara Smith, Jeff Schulze, and Angela Okell-Watson.
Pictured from left to right: Mary Lou Infinito, Jeff Schulze, Dianne
Brideson, Lori Kimball, Chuck Kimball, and Aimee Schulze.
Voulnteers of PruittHealth Hospice (New Bern),
Angela Okell-Watson and Jeff Schulze.
A Remarkable Recovery
C.N.A. Gail Burton was busy working in the shower room
at The Oaks - Scenic View (Skilled Nursing) when she was
suddenly hit with a terrible headache. She walked out to the
nurses station to see if someone could give her a Tylenol, and
things took a turn for the worst. The responding nurse quickly
noticed that Gail’s face was drooping slightly and that she was
showing signs of a stroke. Gail’s condition began to deteriorate
quickly as she was suddenly not able to verbalize or even make
simple movements on her own. Our attending staff called 911
immediately, and the nursing staff and management handled the
crisis with the utmost care and professionalism as they waited
for hospital transport to arrive. Ms. Burton’s fellow partners
were terrified for her safety, but they stayed calm and took
the correct steps to save her life. She was given an estimated
recovery time of 9-12 months, but Gail explains that it was her
family at The Oaks - Scenic View (Skilled Nursing) that kept her
fighting for a full recovery. She made a remarkable recovery
and amazingly, returned to work in a mere 2 months! Gail will
tell everyone that if she had been at home when illness struck,
she would have just lied down and went to sleep, and that if
it were not for her coworkers, she would not be alive today.
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Falcons Players Rally for Young Hospice Patient
24-year-old Chavis Harrison was admitted to Peachtree
Christian Hospice (PCH) for complications from a motorcycle
accident that caused extensive bodily damage, including
quadriplegia. Upon admission to PCH, the team learned that
Chavis was a life-long Falcons fan who had played football
from the time he was four until he was 17 years old.
During a team meeting, a Social Worker mentioned how
great it would be for some Falcons players to come visit him.
Knowing the challenge of making any arrangements during
the NFL season, PCH Administrator, Natalie McNeal, placed
a phone call to Brian Finneran, retired Falcons Wide Receiver
and loyal friend of PCH, to pursue a visit. With Finneran’s help,
the Falcons administrative team responded within hours and
arranged for Dominique Davis #4, Quarterback, and William
Moore #25, Safety, to visit Harrison!
Attired in a Falcons hat and jersey and accompanied by his
mother, Harrison was prepared and excited to meet members
of his revered Falcons team. The players brought an official
Falcons football along with other Falcons gear to sign and give
to him. The men chatted about the game, and before they left,
both players relayed to Harrison that they would lift his name
in prayer with the entire Falcons team before the next game.
Later that week, Chavis was excited to get a second surprise
when Brian Finneran also came to visit Harrison – bringing
gifts and spending time with him, discussing Harrison’s high
school career, as well as Falcons football. Both visits lifted his
spirits noticeably, and it was an honor for the PCH staff to be
a part of that.
PruittHealth - LaFayette Resident Turns 107, Shares the Key to a Long, Happy Life
Family and friends of Ms. Lillie Mae Steward joined the staff
at PruittHealth - LaFayette at the end of September as she
blew out 107 birthday candles at a huge birthday bash! An
accomplishment very few can brag about. Born in 1906 in
Flintstone, Georgia, Lillie Mae is best known for her big smile
and her humor, both of which are very contagious. She grew
up on a farm in Summerville, and when asked about what she
remembers most about her early years, she answers with a
laugh, “Getting a lot of whippins!” Laughs aside, Lillie Mae spent
her early years working hard. As one of four daughters, there
were no boys to work on her father’s farm. “Everything to do in
the field, I did it.” As she got a little older she then spent the next
40 years working as a housekeeper, and while she never had
children of her own, she was a nanny to other children. “They
(are) grown and married and (have) children now. And they’ll
say, ‘Lillie Mae, I wish you was able to take care of my children
like you took care of me,’” says Steward. Besides offering smiles,
Lillie Mae has advice for living so long. “Just pray every once
and a while. Pray. Ask the Lord to forgive you of your sins. I know
I sin sometimes through
the day,” she says with a
laugh. “I ask the Lord to
forgive me!” Lillie Mae has
outlived a lot of her family,
but longevity is a part of
her genes. Lillie Mae’s
mother lived to be 99, and
her aunt lived to be 111.
2 0 1 4 I S S U E 1 7
Second Place Win, First Place in Our Hearts
In an effort to better reach out to the
community, PruittHealth Hospice
(Blue Ridge) entered their local parade
with a PruittHealth Hospice Memorial
Float. The front of the float featured
a banner that said “United Hospice
20th Anniversary” as 2013 completed
20 full years that United Hospice has
served the Blue Ridge, GA community.
We invited the families of some of our
patients that have passed away to hold
a picture of their loved one and ride
on the float. The theme of the parade
was “What We Stand For”, so the team came up with some things they hope the community
thinks about when they hear United Hospice. Posters proudly displayed the words “Dignity,
Family, Compassion, Peace, Memories, and Comfort” across the back of the float so that people
could read the words as the parade passed by. And for an extra treat - small candy packages
that included a flyer for our local Camp Cocoon were passed out to children along the route.
Partners and volunteers were proud to be able to honor several past patients and their families,
as well as some of the staff’s families that have passed away. They aim to shatter misconceptions
and invite the public to associate the compassion of Hospice services with something good.
When it was announced the float had won second place, everyone was elated! There were
high-fives, cheers of joy, and even a few victory dances. Overall, the best part of the event was
definitely seeing members of the audience tear up and begin clapping as we passed them.
Many people mouthed thank you, or stopped a partner to hug them, and thank them for what
they do every day. People cheered for our patients’ family members, and others clapped for
the images of those that have passed away.
It was truly a great experience, and our patients and families were definitely the first place winners that day.
8 C A R I N G P E O P L E
Bamberg Fall festival
“I am so very proud of our facility. We had a great Fall festival on October 26th, complete with a garage sale,
face painting, pumpkin painting, games, cotton candy, popcorn, door prizes, candied apples, and more! It was
a great way to bring our community together and for our partners, patients, and families to enjoy the season.”
- Deborah Rutland, Administrator of PruittHealth – Bamberg
Trunk or Treat!
PruittHealth - Forsyth sponsored a neighborhood “Trunk or
Treat” for the local daycares and Pre-K students. The majority
of the staff volunteered to pitch in and help with the fun filled
fall event, and many decorated the trunks of their vehicles to
create lots of exciting treat stops for the kids. The residents
were thrilled to participate as well, as many were escorted
outside to pass out candies to the children, and a few even
wore a costume! While outdoors, our administrator, Kim Herron,
made sure everyone had what they needed and ensured our
residents were drinking water. The Forsyth team is proud and
honored at how well we all work together and glad that we were
able to bring our residents a unique kind of joy and happiness
through this event.
2 0 1 4 I S S U E 1 9
Goodies, Goblins, and G.R.E.A.T Fun!!!
On Halloween, PruittHealth - Dillon was filled with joy and fun as residents, families,
and partners welcomed children from the local daycare and volunteer officers from
Evans Correctional. This generationally diverse group played games, shared goodies,
and had a great time celebrating the fall festivities.
Annual Kiwanis Christmas Parade
Congratulations to PruittHealth - Blue Ridge for being awarded 1st place for originality at
an Annual Kiwanis Christmas Parade in Copperhill, TN. The parade entry was championed
by Admissions Director Carol Arnold, and the float itself was designed, constructed, and
decorated by Maintenance Director Shannan Wright, the activities department, and other
members of the PruittHealth - Blue Ridge family.
Safe Delivery at Georgia
War Veterans Home
Children from the New Beginnings Day Care
visited Georgia War Veterans Home before
Christmas. They brought gifts and goodies for
our veterans and had the opportunity to spend
some time on the sleigh with a real “Veteran”
Santa. Everyone loved the company of these
special visitors. Their smiles brightened the day.
10 C A R I N G P E O P L E
PruittHealth - Blue Ridge Fall Festival
2 0 1 4 I S S U E 1 11
LETTERS OF APPRECIATION
PruittHealth - Savannah
To the administrative, nursing, and rehab staff at PruittHealth
– Savannah, your team’s dedication, drive, and motivation
during my stay gave me “HOPE.”
took a few minutes out of his day to visit two residents that
share a room together (Mrs. Kuncle & Mrs. Bass) and gave
them both Easter Bunnies. They are always so happy when
Steve visits them, and they were very happy to receive the
bunnies. Steve is very Committed to Caring.
The staff was very professional and displayed a fine attitude
of concern during my stay at the facility. They made me feel
important. They were always smiling and went out of their way
to solve any issues that I had. This caring attitude made me
feel at home. I will definitely choose PruittHealth – Savannah
if I need skilled nursing care again.
Kudo Card for Steve Bullard
Steve Bullard is an exceptional driver for PruittHealth Medical
Supply. He is very caring and attentive to the needs and
concerns of each of our customers. Even more so, Steve
takes the time to visit residents along some of his stops. His
most recent visit was at Laurel Baye of Macon, where he
PruittHealth Hospice (New Bern)
How can I say thank you in a way that communicates how
much your support meant to my family and me. To have
people like you who sincerely care about and support us
in the most challenging time of our lives is a gift from God.
Every single person we met through PruittHealth Hospice
brought such love into our lives. With Alva’s restrictions to
the house, you brought the world to him. You shared your
medical knowledge and allowed him to share his philosophy
of life, his humor, his love of nature, his childhood stories, and
most importantly, his book, which meant so much to him.
You did indeed bring great comfort to his last days. You give
and you give and you give of your heart, knowing that the
journey is destined to be a short one for most. Bless you all.
Donna Ange Harris, New Bern, NC
A PruittHealth Pharmacy Services customer
compliments Driver James Morgan for his kindness
and caring actions.
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PruittHealth - Bamberg
We admitted a patient whose husband was no longer able to take care of her
at home, despite months of struggling to provide her care. He did his very best,
but when the ice storm came through this year, it sent a large tree through their
house, forcing him to relocate to his daughter’s home and send his wife to the
local hospital. The daughter lives a few blocks from our center, and the man
admitted her to our care so that he could spend his days with her. Over the
first week we noticed that he spent as much as eight hours a day here with his
wife, never leaving her side. We never saw him take a break for lunch or bring
anything here with him, but the dietary manager noticed him eating nibbles
off of her tray when she was done eating lunch one day. She came to me (the
Administrator) and asked if she could send him a tray for lunch each day so that
they could eat together and so the man would get the nourishment he needed.
It broke my heart to know he wasn’t eating, and I knew that he would come in
before breakfast and stay most days until around 4 pm. So I went to him and told
him that we would furnish him breakfast and lunch each day as this would not
only make sure he ate right but that the patient would benefit from him eating
with her also. The man replied that he didn’t much worry about himself, he just
wanted to be with her all that he could -- she is his life.
Two days later, his daughter came to me in tears and wanted to know whose
idea it was for him to eat here. I told her what the dietary manager had noticed
and that she and I wanted to make sure they were both taken care of while
here. The daughter then said that we had “saved his life”, as she could not get
him to eat much at home, and her fear was that with this, his health would also
suffer. She told me that he would only take a few crackers with him here each
day, and with all of her efforts, he would not eat before coming in. He also had
very little appetite each day at home for supper because he just wanted to be
with his wife. She said there was no better place she could have found for her
stepmom, and that we had saved two lives when she came here. Her father
had eaten better in this time frame than he had eaten in many months caring
for her at home alone, trying to do everything for his wife with little concern
for himself. So each morning and lunch he strolls her wheelchair to our dining
room and they eat together. It is the most precious thing to see both of their
smiling faces. Thank you to Susan Poitier, our dietary manager, for taking the
time to notice the needs of a family member who needed us as much as his
wife. Without her Commitment to Caring for our residents and their families,
something so simple would not being making such a HUGE difference.
The Oaks - Limestone
I have been a maintenance and safety director for nineteen years, but never
have I seen a group more Committed to Caring for their patients, as well as
one another, than The Oaks - Limestone. When we learned this past winter that
a major ice storm was going to hit us, the team united in a way that was truly
amazing. Many put their family life aside to come in to work with extra clothes,
Caregiver
C O N V E R S AT I O N S
Ginger Baker, LNHA
Administrator
The Oaks at Whitaker Glen – Mayview
(Raleigh, NC)
What made you
want to become
a Nursing Home
Administrator?
I started taking care
of my grandfather
at a young age, and
it instilled in me a
passion for the elderly. I wanted to go into
long-term care since I was a freshman
in high school. Once I graduated from
nursing school, I started at Hillside in
Wake Forest and remained there for
many years, advancing as I got my
degree. I moved to Rex as the Director
of Nursing and then as Administrator.
I wanted to become an administrator
because of the broader impact I could
make in the quality of care at a facility.
What is the most important thing
to know in order to run a successful
building?
Know your staff, and be visible. Do
not be afraid to get your hands dirty.
If families see you involved and truly
believe you care, then all challenges
can be overcome.
What is one piece of advice you
would give to a new administrator?
Take it one day at a time, build a strong
community of peers, and learn from
others.
2 0 1 4 I S S U E 1 13
pillows, blankets, and personal supplies to weather out the
storm and to make sure our residents were well taken care
of. It was astonishing to see this in action. Partners slept in
offices, on air mattresses, and even the hard floor. Some slept
in shifts while others worked. Thank you to all for caring and
for being an inspiration.
- Michael Dykes, Maintenance Director
PruittHealth - Covington
Dear Mr. Pruitt,
We are writing this letter to let you know the type of care
our mother received at PruittHealth in Covington, GA.
Morn was admitted into your Covington facility in October
of 2013. She had been living at Remington House, an
independent/assisted living facility in Conyers, GA, for about
6 years. In September, events happened which required
her to move to a nursing home. She was suffering from
dementia but otherwise was in good health. She was able to
function in the assisted living environment and even able to
wheel herself to meals, as well as perform other necessary
tasks for herself. Because of her dementia, Remington
House suggested/insisted that we admit her short-term to
a geriatric psychiatric hospital for the purpose of regulating
her medications. We agreed, but this proved to be a very
bad decision. She stayed at the Eastside Heritage Center
in Snellville, GA for 4 weeks, steadily becoming worse with
each almost daily change to her mind-altering drugs. In the
end, she was totally unable to function as she had previously,
therefore needing a nursing home.
I have to say that PruittHealth was not our first choice for a
nursing home. In fact, we did not even know of its existence,
even though we live within 8 miles. The social worker at the
hospital tried several nursing homes in the area but was
unable to find a suitable one with enough space for her.
They evidently did not know of PruittHealth either. She was
due to be released but had no place to go. I happened to
have an appointment for a physical with Dr. Kevin Lanclos.
As I was talking to Dr. Lanclos, I asked him if he had any
influence with the staff of Riverside Nursing Home, the one
we were hoping would accept Mom. He immediately asked
why I would want Riverside when Pruitt’s was the best one
in the area.
When l left the doctor’s office, I went directly to PruittHealth
and met with Susan Donnelly. She listened to what I needed
and assured me they had a place for Mom. She showed me
around and really gave me a peaceful feeling. It just felt so
right, a feeling of family. We moved Mom to PruittHealth
the next day. But we didn’t just leave our mother, we went
to see her every day, so we saw first hand the level of care
she received.
We have to tell you that the entire staff is wonderful! We
don’t mean just the people who directly took care of Mom,
we mean everyone. Ken Burnett’s office is the first one as you
go through the front door. He always greeted us and made
sure everything was going well. He also takes up time with
the residents. In fact, we think Mom really enjoyed “flirting’’
with him. Her nurses and aides had such compassion and
treated our mother as they would their own. Some of her
specific caregivers were Marcia Clarke, Kitty Jones, Donna
Hall, and Danielle Roddy. We could not have wished for Mom
to have more loving care. Michelle Martinez, who oversees
the activities, personally made sure that Mom was at every
activity. Mom loved Bingo and Michelle made sure she never
missed. Before Michelle was promoted to this position she
was Mom’s aide during the evening shift. She was one of the
first members of the staff we got to know. When we were
worried about Mom, she always made us feel better. We
could tell she loved her job and the residents. I think because
the facility is smaller than most, it lends itself toward a homey
atmosphere. Several times l would find Mom wearing Susan
Donnelly’s jewelry just because Mom had complimented her
about it. The housekeeping staff made a point to know each
resident and take up a little time with them. Bonnie Thrasher
knows all the residents and their families. She was always
willing to help us when we needed something. Anita Rudder
was also very helpful. When Mom was first admitted we were
taking her clothes home to care for them. But when I saw
Cathy Morgan delivering some clothes to Mom’s roommate,
I was so impressed with the way they looked that we turned
that task over to her. There is not a time Cathy saw me that
she didn’t greet me by name and give me a hug. As Mom
lost her appetite the kitchen staff would ask me what she
would like to eat. The answer always: Potatoes!
Unfortunately, Mom’s stay at PruittHealth ended on January
9, 2014 when she went to be with our Lord. Before I was
ready to leave for PruittHealth that morning I received a call
from Kitty Jones to tell me Mom was not doing well. Our
14 C A R I N G P E O P L E
family was there within the hour. Mom was sleeping very peacefully, but we all
knew she was not going to wake up again. Diane Payne came to talk to us and
explained what was happening. She found other places for Mom’s roommate
to be for the entire day. She brought us a tray with coffee, tea, hot chocolate,
and water for us to have. Even though we didn’t want any, she tried to bring us
food throughout the day. Diane was so good to us.
During the last hour we had with our mother, Marcia and Kitty were constantly
with us. We felt as if they were a part of our family. Marcia leaned down into
Mom’s ear and sang hymns to her as she and Mom had sung during the past
months. She also comforted Mom and all of us by reciting scriptures to Mom.
I have told many people since then that Mom’s going home could not have
been any sweeter.
Everyone knew that Mom was born in Scotland. When she had passed, Kitty
and Marcia asked us to leave the room for a few minutes. They bathed her,
combed her hair, and put a clean nightgown on her. They changed the bed
sheets. When we returned she was lying under her Scottish red tartan blanket,
looking so beautiful. The compassion seen in them is truly a God-given gift.
But it didn’t end there. We were very surprised to see at least 7 members of the
Pruitt staff at Mom’s funeral. That just reinforced what we already knew, it’s not
a just a job for them. They care deeply about the residents and their families.
Even though Mom is no longer at PruittHealth we found such friends in the
staff and the residents that we actually continue to visit. Please let us know if
while we are there we can do anything for you.
There is no way we can thank the staff of PruittHealth for all they did for our
mother. We feel truly blessed to have been part of the Pruitt family during that
difficult time.
We wish you all well in the future.
With great thanks,
Margaret’s children:
Ron Blomberg
Debbie Harris
Lois Gray
From the Editor
Caring People
Send Us Your Stories
Stories of caring, heroism, successes, and
events happen throughout the PruittHealth
family of providers every day.
We know through word of mouth and
through your Kudo Card submissions that
our partners are doing amazing things for
the patients and for the community, and we
would love for you to share those stories
here in Caring People.
So snap a photo, and send it along with
information about your event, partner, or
patient success story to:
[email protected].
If you have any questions please email us at
the above address, or give us a call:
(678) 533-6614
We hope you have enjoyed this issue of
Caring People.
About PruittHealth
Since 1969, PruittHealth has provided
management-related services for a spectrum
of high quality health care providers
throughout the Southeast.
Known for its proactive performance
improvement programs and holistic
post-acute care services, PruittHealth’s
“commitment to caring” defines not only
what they do, but the culture in which its
skilled network of dedicated providers work.
With more than 200 service locations
in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina,
and North Carolina, the PruittHealth
family of providers touches the lives of more
than 24,000 patients each day through
skilled nursing health care centers, home
health agencies, hospice agencies, assisted
living facilities, institutional pharmacies,
and programs in rehabilitation, nutrition,
adult day care, community care, and care
management.
2 0 1 4 I S S U E 1 15
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