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Employees Honored for Commitment and Compassion

Hospital Celebrates with Annual Service Awards

GRIFFIN, GA – Friday, February 25, 2010 - Spalding Regional Medical Center held their Employee Service Award Banquet Thursday, February 25, celebrating the many years of service employees have given to Spalding Regional, their patients and their community.  Additionally, several employees were honored for the outstanding work they do in their positions, having been nominated by coworkers, patients and physicians.  The event was held at the Griffin Country Club, with over 170 employees and family members in attendance.

Steve Brown, Director of Information Systems presided with John Quinn, CEO expressing appreciation to one hundred and eight employees being honored for their five, ten, fifteen, twenty, and even forty years of service.  Collectively these dedicated individuals represented one thousand three hundred and ten years of service to their community. This included nine employees celebrating twenty-five, thirty and thirty-five year anniversaries; and three attendees were recognized during the evening for their forty years of outstanding service:

            Renia Lott of Stockbridge, Director of Laboratory Services

            Virginia Earnest of Fayetteville, Supervisor for Laboratory Services

            Lucy Prather of Griffin, LPN, Pediatrics

CEO John Quinn then presented outstanding service awards to Sherika Morris, an RN and winner for clinical Employee of the Year; Tim Foust from the Maintenance Department received recognition as Employee of the Year for support departments; the Teamwork Award was presented to Robin Gilkey, Hospital Controller; and Steve Brown, Director of Information Systems received the Leader of the Year award.  Carolyn Arbuckle, Director of Business Development had the honor or presenting the hospital’s “Caring Hearts Award” recognizing Joan Harris of Griffin as Spalding Regional’s Volunteer of the Year.

Spoke John Quinn, “These individuals have made significant contributions to our hospital by not only doing an outstanding job with their basic responsibilities, but also demonstrating the values of caring and compassion and the pursuit of the highest quality care possible that we at Spalding Regional strongly believe in.”

Quinn also summed up why this annual event is so special to him and the entire Medical Center, “What makes our hospital a special place is not the building in which we operate or the equipment that we have, rather it is the commitment and compassion of our talented group of employees that make our hospital what it is.”

Spalding Regional Medical Center, part of Tenet Healthcare, is a 160-bed acute care hospital located at 601 South Eighth Street in Griffin, Ga. The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of Spalding, Butts, Clayton, Fayette, Henry, Lamar and Pike counties for more than 100 years. Spalding Regional provides a number of services, including specialties in orthopedics, women’s services, cardiac care, oncology services, physical, occupational and speech therapy and sleep medicine. Spalding Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

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The Association’s Education Recognition Certificate assures that educational programs meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs. These Standards were developed and tested under the auspices of the National Diabetes Advisory Board in 1983 and were revised by the diabetes community in 1994 and 2000.

For the new department, Spalding Regional is purchasing two new, state-of-the-art Selenia^™ digital mammography units and computer-aided detection system from Hologic^® .

Spalding Regional Medical Center will be the first healthcare provider in the area to feature the advanced technology of digital mammography. For the patient, a digital mammogram is conducted in the same manner as traditional film mammography. However, with digital mammography, the image is immediately available to radiologists for diagnosis, and can be magnified and digitally enhanced to see certain areas more clearly. Digital mammography will also shorten the procedure time for patients and since there is no waiting for film to be developed, the technician will immediately know if any additional images are needed.

In conjunction with the digital mammography unit, Spalding Regional Medical Center is also purchasing a computer-aided detection system. This system highlights characteristics commonly associated with breast cancer and flags abnormalities to help the radiologist detect early breast cancer.

“We are excited to provide women in our community with the latest mammography technology available and to create a convenient location for women to access imaging and diagnostic services at our hospital,” said Chris Locke, Chief Operating Officer, Spalding Regional Medical Center. “This project is another example of our commitment to bringing state-of-the-art technology and services to our community.”

Construction on the project is underway and the new equipment has been purchased. The new department will open and begin accepting patients for digital mammography by early 2009. Plans are also being finalized to relocate the hospital’s bone density, ultrasound and breast biopsy services to the Women’s Center later in 2009.

The Association’s Education Recognition Certificate assures that educational programs meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs. These Standards were developed and tested under the auspices of the National Diabetes Advisory Board in 1983 and were revised by the diabetes community in 1994 and 2000.

For the new department, Spalding Regional is purchasing two new, state-of-the-art Selenia^™ digital mammography units and computer-aided detection system from Hologic^® .

Spalding Regional Medical Center will be the first healthcare provider in the area to feature the advanced technology of digital mammography. For the patient, a digital mammogram is conducted in the same manner as traditional film mammography. However, with digital mammography, the image is immediately available to radiologists for diagnosis, and can be magnified and digitally enhanced to see certain areas more clearly. Digital mammography will also shorten the procedure time for patients and since there is no waiting for film to be developed, the technician will immediately know if any additional images are needed.

In conjunction with the digital mammography unit, Spalding Regional Medical Center is also purchasing a computer-aided detection system. This system highlights characteristics commonly associated with breast cancer and flags abnormalities to help the radiologist detect early breast cancer.

“We are excited to provide women in our community with the latest mammography technology available and to create a convenient location for women to access imaging and diagnostic services at our hospital,” said Chris Locke, Chief Operating Officer, Spalding Regional Medical Center. “This project is another example of our commitment to bringing state-of-the-art technology and services to our community.”

Construction on the project is underway and the new equipment has been purchased. The new department will open and begin accepting patients for digital mammography by early 2009. Plans are also being finalized to relocate the hospital’s bone density, ultrasound and breast biopsy services to the Women’s Center later in 2009.

All ultrasound, X-ray, Nuclear Medicine, MRI and CT procedures will now be digitally processed. Patients and physicians will no longer have to wait for hard copies of images or reports to be delivered. Physicians will receive images more quickly and be able to access their patient’s images from any computer with Internet access, such as from the hospital, the office or at home. In addition, the remote access will allow physicians who are on-call to view imaging reports without having to be at the hospital. This allows physicians to make an accurate diagnosis quicker and begin treatment on a patient sooner.

PACS also gives radiologists and other imaging professionals instant access to images. Radiologists and clinicians can immediately see if the image study is satisfactory or another image is needed before the patient leaves Radiology.

“Transitioning our Radiology Department to an all digital format will improve efficiencies for our employees and physicians, and most importantly improve quality of care for our patients,” says Chris Locke, Chief Operating Officer at Spalding Regional Medical Center. “As technology evolves and our community grows, we will continue to evaluate new opportunities to bring medical advancements to the patients we serve.”

PACS is being implemented at Spalding Regional Medical Center, Sylvan Grove Hospital in Jackson, Ga., and Spalding Regional Urgent Care at Heron Bay in Locust Grove, Ga.

You bring your friends and we'll provide the party - together, we'll get more women screened for breast cancer.

• Tuesday, Oct. 27, and Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Just call (770) 229-6931 to schedule your appointment! Representatives are available between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

According to the American Cancer Society, yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.

Get With The Guidelines is a quality improvement initiative that provides hospital staff with tools that follow proven evidence-based guidelines and procedures in caring for heart failure patients to prevent future hospitalizations. According to GWTG–HF treatment guidelines, heart failure patients are started on aggressive risk-reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, aspirin, diuretics and anticoagulants in the hospital. They also receive alcohol/drug use and thyroid management counseling as well as referrals for cardiac rehabilitation before being discharged.

“The full implementation of national heart failure guideline recommended care is a critical step in preventing recurrent hospitalizations and prolonging the lives of heart failure patients,” said Gregg C. Fonarow, M.D., National Chairman of the GWTG Steering Committee and director of Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center. “The goal of the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines program is to help hospitals like Spalding Regional Medical Center implement appropriate evidence-based care and protocols that will reduce disability and the number of deaths in these patients.”

According to the American Heart Association, about 5.2 million people suffer from heart failure. Statistics also show each year more than 57,000 people will die of heart failure.

“Spalding Regional is dedicated to making our care for heart failure patients among the best in the country. We will continue in our efforts and build off the success of this award by continued implementation of the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure program that allowed us to accomplish this goal,” said John Quinn, CEO of Spalding Regional Medical Center.

GWTG–Heart Failure helps Spalding Regional’s staff develop and implement acute and secondary prevention guideline processes. The program includes quality-improvement measures such as care maps, discharge protocols, standing orders and measurement tools. This quick and efficient use of guideline tools will enable Spalding Regional to improve the quality of care it provides heart failure patients, save lives and ultimately, reduce healthcare costs by lowering the recurrence of heart attacks.

The program mobilizes teams in acute care hospitals to implement American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology secondary prevention guidelines.

Children of three Spalding Regional Medical Center employees were 2008 scholarship recipients, their parents and schools are:

• Amy Havard, daughter of Susan Havard, Georgia Institute of Technology,
• Caroline Holt, daughter of Jennifer Holt, University of Georgia, and
• Jared Kingsley, son of Patsy Kingsley, Georgia Institute of Technology

“Our Foundation sees these scholarships as an investment in the future,” said Maria Martineau Plankinton, director of the Tenet Healthcare Foundation. “We are delighted to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of these students and to help in their pursuit of higher education.  The entire organization wishes each of them congratulations and the best of luck next semester.” 

Scholarships are awarded each year for full-time undergraduate study at any accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school. Winners are chosen based on academic record, demonstrated leadership, participation in school and community activities, honors, work experience, goals and aspirations stated on the application, unusual personal or family circumstances and an outside appraisal.

The program is administered for Tenet by Scholarship Management Services, a department of Scholarship America in compliance with state and federal guidelines regulating scholarship awards by corporate foundations.

Tenet Healthcare Foundation is a charitable foundation sponsored by Tenet Healthcare Corporation. Endowed by Tenet, the Foundation, directs most of its grants to help unmet health care needs in the communities served by facilities owned by Tenet subsidiaries. The Foundation also provides grants to various educational, social services, civic and humanities-supporting organizations nationwide.

Tenet Healthcare Corporation, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates acute care hospitals and related ancillary health care businesses, which include ambulatory surgery centers and diagnostic imaging centers. Tenet is committed to providing high quality care to patients in the communities we serve. Tenet can be found on the World Wide Web at www.tenethealth.com.

To earn these recognitions, Spalding Regional successfully demonstrated 85% or greater adherence on all of the Get With The Guidelines^SM – Coronary Artery Disease performance measures for an initial three-month period and a one-year timeframe. 

“We are honored to receive this national recognition for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care,” said John Quinn, CEO of Spalding Regional Medical Center. “The award demonstrates our staff and physicians’ commitment to providing high quality care to our patients and our community.”

Get With The Guidelines^SM is the premier hospital-based quality improvement program for he American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. The program’s nationally accepted recommendations are designed to improve quality, reduce the risk of recurrent heart attacks and save lives of patients with coronary artery disease. Spalding Regional is one of more than 1,400 hospitals nationwide that participate in the Get With The Guidelines^SM program.

About 700 hospitals or approximately 15% of hospitals in the United States have applied for and received the award. This marks the fifth time that Spalding Regional has received this recognition.

The QRCR program was started by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) in 2003 to help consumers identify facilities that are using qualified respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care. Hospitals earning the QRCR designation ensure patient safety by agreeing to adhere to a strict set of criteria governing their respiratory care services.

To qualify for the recognition, Spalding Regional provided documentation showing it meets the following conditions:

• All respiratory therapists employed at Spalding Regional to deliver bedside respiratory care services are either legally recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory care services or hold the CRT or RRT credential.
• Respiratory therapists are available 24 hours a day.
• Other personnel qualified to perform specific respiratory procedures and the amount of supervision required for personnel to carry out specific procedures must be designated in writing.
• A doctor of medicine or osteopathy is designated as medical director of respiratory care services.

The AARC’s QRCR program grew out of growing concerns among health care leaders and the general public regarding the safety and quality of health care services provided to patients. Hospitals that meet the QRCR requirements provide a level of respiratory care consistent with national standards and guidelines, and should be commended for their commitment to quality care. A list of QRCR hospitals is maintained at the association’s website for consumers, YourLungHealth.org. 

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others, at whatever cost,” said tennis great Arthur Ashe.

“We see this dedication to the service of others throughout our hospital as our employees work together every day to provide high quality care to our patients and their families,” said John Quinn, CEO of Spalding Regional Medical Center. “We’re very proud of each and every member of our staff and the contributions they make throughout the year.”

Since 1921, hospitals across the country have been celebrating National Hospital & Healthcare Week and inviting their communities to join in saying “thank you” to the nurses, technicians and many other health care workers who provide quality care throughout the year. National Nurse’s Week honors the hard work and dedication of nurses and begins on the birth date of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.            

“You often hear our employees talk about their role as being a calling,” said Quinn. “That feeling is shown in every caring touch and the time they spend listening to our patients and families.  I’m frequently touched by the compassion and sensitivity they show. National Nurse’s Week and National Hospital & Healthcare Week allow each of us the chance to say thank you to these extraordinary individuals who care for our family and friends.”            

As part of the annual celebration, the Tenet Healthcare Foundation will honor an outstanding employee at Spalding Regional Medical Center by donating to the charitable organization of the employee’s choice. Wadra McCullough, RNC, Nursing Director for the 3rd Floor Medical/Surgical Unit, was selected by Spalding Regional’s management team to receive this honor. Wadra has selected the Griffin-Spalding County United Way to receive the donation. The Tenet Healthcare Foundation will distribute nearly $30,000 at Tenet hospitals as a part of this year’s National Nurses Week and National Hospital and Healthcare Week celebrations.

Spalding Regional Medical Center, part of Tenet Georgia, is a 160-bed acute care hospital located at 601 South Eighth Street in Griffin, Ga. The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of Spalding, Butts, Clayton, Fayette, Henry, Lamar and Pike counties for more than 100 years. Spalding Regional provides a number of services, including specialties in orthopedics, women’s services, cardiac care, oncology services, physical, occupational and speech therapy and sleep medicine. Spalding Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

The Circle of Excellence honors those Tenet hospitals that have performed at the highest levels in the past year in the areas of quality, service and operation performance. Key factors involved in the process include patient, physician and employee satisfaction scores, clinical quality scores and financial performance. 

“The hard work and dedication of the employees at Spalding Regional Medical Center made 2007 a great year for the hospital,” said Stephen Newman, M.D., Tenet’s chief operating officer. “I’m proud of all that they accomplished and am thrilled to honor them with Tenet’s Circle of Excellence Award.”

“The nurses really made a difference in our lives,” Heather O’Pry said about the experience. “When you think it’s the worst thing you can go through, they are there to give you that ray of hope that there is light at the end of a tunnel. My son was on a ventilator and he fought for every breath he took. They really helped me and my husband through the hardest time of our lives.”

Kelley and Aaron Gregory, along with their 11-year-old daughter, Morgan, and 8-year-old son, Slade, have been attending for the last 10 years. Morgan was born at 28 weeks, weighed only 2 pounds, 6 ounces, and spent the first 11 weeks of her life in a hospital.

The O’Prys and Gregorys were among the 40 angels and their families present at the hospital’s 10th annual “Angels in April” newborn reunion.

According to Liz Tarleton, Spalding Regional’s community educator, including the angels’ siblings, parents, grandparents and extended family, there were more than 150 people at the reunion for “newborns who spent extra time in the nursery.”

“We have kids who are 12 and 14 who have been coming every year,” Tarleton said. “They mark their calendars each year for it and really look forward to it. It’s a real meaningful event.”

Although Hunter is only 3 years old, this is the O’Prys fourth year. Their first was when he was only 6 weeks old.

“Every year when we go back, the nurses remember who we are,” Heather O’Pry said, fighting back tears as she thought about what their son had been through and how he almost didn’t make it. “It’s just a wonderful time to reminisce with other moms and see all the nurses. I spoke with a set of parents yesterday and, although their son is 4 or 5 years old, this was their first year coming out. They were very impressed. They didn’t know what to expect.”

“This day is meant to honor Dr. Tatum, who has worked with us for over 40 years,” said John Quinn, chief executive officer of the hospital.

“He practiced urology here and was a key physician in many positions in our hospital,” Quinn said. Quinn then listed some of the positions Tatum held, including chief of staff, chief of surgery and member of the hospital board for nearly 20 years.

“Not only was he a great doctor here, but he provided a lot of great service to the hospital in a lot of leadership roles,” Quinn said.

Tatum retired for medical reasons in September 2007 while the operating room was being renovated. Tatum helped pick out the equipment that would be used in the room but never got to use it himself. Tatum said he appreciates the support of the hospital staff.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Tatum said, voice overcome with emotion. “They’re doing more than they should and I appreciate it greatly.”

Marian Cole, perioperative director for Spalding Regional Medical Center, worked with Tatum for more than 30 years. “I didn’t have long to see how devoted he was to providing excellent patient care,” she said. “He held high standards for himself and everyone that cared for his patients. It’s just been a privilege working with him over these years, caring for the patients in our community.”

Tatum then cut a ribbon stretched across the hall leading to the operating room. After the ceremony, the guests, which included his children and grandchildren as well as co-workers at the hospital, relocated to the first floor for a reception and speeches. Quinn and Cole spoke first, then opened the floor for comments from others.

Linda Thomas, a registered nurse, started working with Tatum in 1979. “With Dr. Tatum’s help, I can honestly say he gave me the confidence I needed to learn that job,” she said.

She then said he respected all of the nurses and that they in turn respected him for his high standards.

Dr. Tom Hunt said Tatum was always willing to help other departments when they needed an extra pair of hands. “I just want to say we really appreciate you and we love you,” he said.

Tatum responded by saying that Hunt was one of the finest physicians he knew. He recounted an incident where he helped Hunt with a ruptured aneurysm and noticed that Hunt was ambidextrous - he could operate with both hands.

Granddaughter Sara Tatum spoke next. “I just wanted to say he’s a great man and I really look up to him,” she said.

She said that in the fall she will be attending nursing school at the University of Alabama and later medical school and that her grandfather had inspired her.