Vol. 24, Number 1 - Nash Health Care Systems

Nash Health Care’s Quarterly News Magazine
Vol. 24, Number 1, 2013
Nash Health Care honored as “Cutting-Edge” Hospital
Blue Cross and Blue Shield recognizes hospital quality
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence,
then, is not an act, but a habit. —Aristotle
They’re After Your Heart
NHCS educators provide
information on recognizing
heart attacks
Nash Health Care honored as “Cutting-Edge” Hospital
Blue Cross and Blue Shield recognizes hospital quality
Now, more than ever, a dedication to excellence isn’t just necessary for hospitals to demonstrate stellar patient
satisfaction scores; it is a key to survival.
New federal regulations base hospitals’ Medicare revenue on certain criteria which demonstrate a hospital’s
dedication to excellence in several areas, including patient safety, performance outcomes, and patient education.
One percent of Medicare revenues may be in jeopardy if these standards are not met, and by 2015, this number
increases to 3 percent. In addition, insurance companies are closely looking at the track records of area hospitals,
and quality is an intrinsic factor in deciding contract-renewal discussions, according to information from
Business North Carolina magazine.
In the latest edition of Business North Carolina, the magazine examined hospitals throughout the state that
have received superior scores in several important areas. Nash General Hospital was specifically mentioned for
recognition of its excellence in bariatric surgery and knee and hip replacements by Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of North Carolina. This recognition was the result of data analyzed from various sources and collaboration with
professional organizations and physicians.
But this recognition should come as no surprise to the patients whose testimonials shower health care staffers
with praise.
The Nash Surgical Weight Loss Center has been named an American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric
Surgery (ASMBS) Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. The ASMBS is the largest society for this specialty
in the world and represents the highest industry standards for care and treatment. The center was also named
a Blue Distinction Center for bariatric surgery by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. The Nash
Joint Replacement Center was also named a Blue Distinction Center and has been consistently ranked as one
of the top 10 joint replacement programs in the NC.
“We are proud of these accomplishments, and we are grateful for the commitment of our dedicated employees
who made this possible,” said Larry Chewning, president and CEO of Nash Health Care. “This is just one facet
of a variety of initiatives we are taking—from the Pursuit of Excellence to Lean Health Care—that will help
prepare us for these upcoming changes in Medicare.”
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NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
In less than the amount of time it takes to
watch a movie, your heart can suffer permanent
damage. According to the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care, 85 percent of damage from a
heart attack occurs within the first two hours
after onset, making it vital to get help as soon as
the first symptoms of an impending heart attack occur. By recognizing the signs and symptoms of an impending heart attack, 50 percent
of patients can prevent a “full-blown” heart attack from happening.
However, not all warning signs follow the
script of television shows and movies, and heart
attacks are not always accompanied by chest
pain. Some of the less obvious warning signs
can include jaw pain, fatigue, or nausea.
Women more often have these less-obvious
symptoms. In addition, patients can demonstrate symptoms of an impending heart attack
hours or days before the actual attack occurs
That’s why Nash Health Care employees are
providing this information to the community
for a series of educational events meant to get
the word out about early heart attack care
(EHAC).
EHAC is a campaign to educate Americans
about the early symptoms of an impending
heart attack in order to prevent an actual heart
attack from ever occurring. Preventing the heart
attack before it happens and getting immediate
treatment prevents heart damage. EHAC is a
plea to the public to be responsible, not only for
themselves, but for those around them who
may be experiencing early heart attack symptoms. This public education program concentrates on the benefits of receiving early
treatment and activating emergency medical
services before the health crisis escalates. Heart
disease causes about 1 in every 6 deaths in the
United States, according to informationfrom
the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care.
“Every 25 seconds, an American will have a
coronary (heart) event, and every minute, someone will die of one, and it is evident that in
order to stop this killer in our community, education is the first line of defense,” said Tera
Joyner, BSN, RN, the MI Coordinator for
Nash Health Care. In her role, Joyner continu-
E H A C – Early Heart Attack Care
What should you do if
you think someone is
having a heart attack?
Learn these signs of
a heart attack
People may experience any or all of
these symptoms.
Symptoms may be different for women than
men. Women are more likely to have these
symptoms: nausea, stomach pain, fatigue,
back pain and jaw pain.
Which foods
are healthy?
Pain that travels down
one or both arms
Chest pressure,
Jaw pain
squeezing,
or discomfort
Fatigue
Shortness
of breath
Anxiety
Feeling of
fullness
Call
91 1
Which exercises are
best for your heart?
Nausea
Back pain
Nash Heart Center
This is an example of an educational chart that will be
used as part of the EHAC initiative.
ally looks for ways to improve outcomes for
patients who have suffered a heart attack
(which is also called a myocardial infarction
or MI).
The EHAC initiative is a part of Nash
Health Care’s journey to become an accredited
chest pain center. While this is a voluntary
accreditation, it is awarded to hospitals that
have taken a proactive approach to evaluating
and improving the care, education and treatment of patients who have heart disease.
“Most important, we are going to be extremely involved in community education and
outreach,” Joyner said. “We have been evaluating how we care for patients and searching for
ways in which we can better serve them. Since
Eastern North Carolina has some of the highest incidents of heart attack and stroke in the
country, this information on stopping a heart
attack before it starts is vital to the quality of
life of our area citizens.”
Health care professionals are available to
present EHAC educational sessions to the
Employees announce the debut of the EHAC initiative,
community. If your church, civic club, or orwhich provides information about chest pain and heart
ganization would like to arrange a guest
attacks. Pictured are, from left, Meredith Hayes, Sarah
Heenan, Jody Amerson, and Tara Joyner. Not pictured is speaker to talk about EHAC and provide useful health information, please contact Tera
Delight Stricklan.
Joyner at 962-8995.
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
3
P
U
R
S
U
I
T
Town Hall Meetings
Keep Employees
Informed, Updated
What’s going on at Nash Health Care? Why is
there so much construction? When will these
projects be completed? These are some of the
questions Nash Health Care employees may be
asked when they are off duty and outside the hospital walls. As a part of Nash Health Care’s Pursuit of Excellence, the hospital senior leadership
team continually equips employees with the information they need to answer these questions
and provides employees with a
chance to ask some of their
own. These Town Hall meetings have been an overwhelming success, with standing room
Don’t miss the next
only at some of the events. The
series of Town Hall
latest series featured updates on
meetings.
the many construction projects
at the hospital, particularly the
Town Hall meetings
new Emergency Department
are already scheduled
and new Nash Heart Center.
for early April and employees can sign up in
The steel framing of the facility
is completed and the dream of
Net Learning.
so many is taking shape. Some
of the construction milestones
include installing the electrical lines between the
generator building and Central Energy Plant,
completing the foundation for the generator
building, and interior wall framing. Overhead
mechanical equipment has been installed.
Other construction/renovation projects scheduled for 2013 include:
• Nash General Hospital kitchen renovations to
accommodate new room service for patients
• Completion of refurbishing finishes and furniture for Nash Day Hospital Day Surgery/Lab
waiting area and Nash Day Hospital Imaging
waiting area
• Replacement of the MRI at Nash Day
Hospital
• Renovations to the Nash Day Hospital
Rehabilitation Department
• Renovations to the hospital cafeteria and
serving area.
o
f
E
X
C
E
L
L
E
N
C
E
Employee Engagement
Team Celebrates Outstanding
Employees
On Jan. 24, the Pursuit of Excellence Employee
Engagement Team held a breakfast to honor
employees who received compliments and positive
mentions in the 2012 Press Gainey patient satisfaction surveys. Approximately 175 employees
attended. The Employee Engagement Team
is planning another breakfast in July to celebrate
those who are mentioned in the first two quarters
of 2013.
Dr. David Gorby (far right) congratulates Regina Jordan
(left) and Gloria Harris (center) at a breakfast honoring
employees who were complimented in the 2012 Press
Gainey patient satisfaction surveys.
Stay
informed!
For updated information on the construction
of the new Emergency Department and Nash
Heart Center, please visit the website
www.nhcs.org.
Pictured are some of the members of the Employee
Engagement Team who were instrumental in helping
organize the breakfast. From left to right, Lori Harrell,
Paulette Harris, Dot Battle, Lynn Cash, Britt Bennett
and Cassandra Bryant.
Patricia Alford-Harrison (center) is all smiles as she is
commended for her outstanding work by Senior Vice
President and CIO David Hinkle (left) and Chief
Nursing Officer Leslie Hall (right).
Interior wall framing with overhead
mechanical piping
and ductwork
being installed at
the new Emergency
Department.
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
Is it a lump, or is it
normal breast tissue?
What can be done to
minimize anxiety while
waiting to learn the results of a biopsy? How
can I prevent breast cancer? Breast cancer, and
the fear that often accompanies it, were disDr. Kenneth Crosby of
cussed at the First
UNC Hospitals provides
Annual Breast Health
Education Seminar held the keynote address at the
first breast health educarecently at the Gateway tional seminar.
Convention Center.
The event was sponsored by the Nash Breast
Care Center with financial support from Myriad
Genetic Laboratory, Home Health Care Supplies
and Medi. Gift certificates were provided by
Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.
Eighty-four attended the seminar, titled “Breast
Health Education, Prevention and Living Beyond
Breast Cancer: Ask the Experts.” Sterling Grimes,
director of specialty services at Nash Health Care,
stated that the successful program was a coordinated effort by the Nash Breast Care Center with
Boice-Willis Clinic, Nash X-Ray Associates, and
the Nash Cancer Center.
Penny Hearn, breast nurse navigator and
genetic educator with the Nash Breast Care
Center, said, “It is so important to have a forum
where participants can receive information that
will make a difference not only in their own lives,
but in the lives of their loved ones and in the
health of the community.”
The psychological
impact of a
breast cancer diagnosis can be
devastating, and
each person Penny Hearn, breast health nurse navigator (center), poses with radiologists
may react
in different Dr. Todd Goodnight (right) and Dr.
ways. Some Gerald Capps (left).
may be in denial, some may appeal to a higher
power, and others may respond in anger, said Dr.
Kenneth Crosby in his keynote address. The address focused on the emotional impact of breast
cancer, particularly the
fear of diagnosis and
recurrence.
Having a friend, family member, or
coworker who is diagnosed with breast cancer can increase the
amount of anxiety
women face during
Dr. Lisa Nelson-Robinson, routine screenings—
a surgeon with Boiceeven if these women
Willis Clinic, greets Tracey do not have a family
Hunter, who attended the
history of breast cancer,
recent breast health educa- he said. Crosby also
tion seminar.
noted that many
women turn to “Dr. Google” for information on
breast cancer—and that is not always a good thing.
“Make sure your information is coming from a
reliable source,” he said. “Also, gather information
and get to know the names of those on your treatment team. It is important to minimize surprises
and schedule important tests early in the week, so
if you have a question, you can call your doctor’s
office.”
Other topics included lymphedema prevention, nutrition and exercise for cancer prevention
and post-cancer diagnosis.
Construction continues on the new Emergency Department, Nash Heart Center and Pediatric Emergency Department. An update on these construction projects was
provided by hospital leadership at the most recent Town
Hall meeting.
A construction
employee works
on the foundation
for the generator
building.
The steel framing for the new Emergency Department
and Nash Heart Center is completed.
4
More Than 80 Attend First
Annual Breast Health Seminar
Employees instrumental in the planning, implementation
and success of the seminar included: (left to right) Debbie
Helmer, occupational therapist and certified lymphedema
specialist; Delphine Wiggins, oncology social worker;
Chris Wood, manager of the Nash Cancer Treatment
Center; Marlene Everette, perianesthesia nurse manager
and breast cancer survivor; Beth Pearsall, of the Nash
Breast Care Center; Chris Cherry, manager of oncology;
Sterling Grimes, director of special services; and Penny
Hearn, breast nurse navigator and genetic educator with
the Nash Breast Care Center.
Beth Pearsall, of the Nash Breast Care Center, welcomes
seminar participants at a breast cancer information booth.
Mitchell appointed to Nash
Health Care Board
Melvin M. Mitchell, president of the Melvin M.
Mitchell Agency, was appointed to the Nash Health
Care Board of Commissioners. Mitchell will serve a
three-year term.
Originally from Murfreesboro, Mitchell has
lived in Rocky Mount since 1974. He received his
bachelor’s degree in business education from Fayetteville State University and since then has earned
several accolades for his business expertise and
community service. He is the president/proprietor
of the Melvin Mitchell Agency, Inc., an Exclusive
Agency with Allstate Insurance Company.
“I volunteered for the board because I welcome
the opportunity to become a part of improving
health care for a community that I have been a
part of for over 35 years,” Mitchell said. “I have a
genuine, vested interest in the community members, as well as the businesses and industries striving to survive here, and I feel that with the vast
changes in health care in this uncertain economy,
this is a very important time to get involved.”
In addition to serving as a board member of the
Rocky Mount Boys Club, Triangle Bank and
Greater Rocky Mount Family Practice, Mitchell’s
insurance agency was named Agency of the Year
in 1998, 1999 and 2000. He is a former member
of the Allstate Agency Advisory Board, a recipient
of the 24-Year Honor Ring Award, and a six-time
recipient of the Life Leaders Award. He also serves
on the board of directors for Providence Bank and
is a past member of the board of directors for First
Carolina State Bank.
Mitchell has also served on the trustee board,
the finance committee and the usher board of
North End Missionary Baptist Church. He is a
member of Alpha Omicron Chapter of Omega
Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and has served that organization as a member of the executive board and as
the assistant keeper of finance.
The Nash Health Care Board of Commissioners is a 14-member volunteer board appointed
by the Nash County Board of Commissioners.
Each board member is appointed for one 3-year
term. Commissioners may be reappointed to
serve two additional terms for a maximum of
three terms. The Nash Health Care Systems Board
of Commissioners meets on the first Thursday of
each month.
Mitchell and his wife, Laura, have two daughters and three grandchildren.
For more information on the Nash Health Care
Board of Commissioners, please visit the website
www.nhcs.org.
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
5
ENGAGING THE FUTURE
New Technology = New Frontier
Nash Health Care Annual Report 2012
Telestroke program aids patients when seconds matter most
If experiencing stroke symptoms, it is vital to call 9-1-1 : the sooner help
arrives, the better the chance of survival and a successful recovery. Drugs
such as tPA (short for tissue plasminogen activator) can make a dramatic
difference in eliminating complications, but they must be utilized within a
narrow time window after the onset of a stroke …
… and the right type of stroke.
When a patient arrives in the Emergency Department with stroke-like
symptoms, the final diagnosis is far from complete. Is it a thrombotic stroke
(a blood clot that blocks blood supply
to the brain)? Is it an intracerebral
hemorrhage (when a brain blood vessel bursts and spills into surrounding
tissue)? Is it a TIA (sometimes referred
to as a ministroke)? Did the blood clot
start in the brain, or did it start near
the heart, then travel to the brain
where it became lodged in the narrower arteries? The best course of
treatment for the patient is deter—Nicole Place, RN
mined by the answers to these questions—and time is precious. To
determine this, a neurologist – a doctor who specializes in treatment of the brain, nervous system, and spinal cord
– must make an accurate and speedy diagnosis. However, many emergency
rooms across North Carolina do not have a full-time, on-call neurologist,
but thanks to N.E.L.S.O.N, an on-call neurologist is always available at the
click of a mouse.
N.E.L.S.O.N., which stands for Neuro Evaluation Liaison for Simultaneous Observations, is an In-Touch Robot/Cart that allows medical experts to
“This will help expedite
stroke care at Nash
Health Care and will
accelerate the transfer
of any cases that require interventional
treatments.”
Wanda Sohn (right), presents Caroline Vierheller (left), pose with N.E.L.S.O.N.
be in two places at once utilizing technology similar to that used in videoconferencing. Located in the Emergency Department of Nash General Hospital,
N.E.L.S.O.N. streamlines access to board-certified stroke specialists 24/7.
N.E.L.S.O.N., was first implemented in
January 2013 and has been made possible
through collaboration with DukeMed.
“This will help expedite stroke care at Nash
Health Care and will accelerate the transfer of
any cases that require interventional treatments,” said Nicole Place, RN, stroke coordinator at Nash Health Care. “This will also
allow Nash to retain appropriate patients and
Duke can assist with patient care remotely
when needed.” This is a part of Nash Health
Care’s effort to be named a Primary Stroke
Center by the Joint Commission, a voluntary
To help you remember the signs of a stroke, think of the letters in the word FAST.
hospital accreditation agency. To achieve this
designation, hospitals must demonstrate rigorF stands for face.
A stands for arms.
S stands for speech.
T stands for time.
ous adherence to the highest standards in
Does your face feel numb, as
Do you have difficulty repeating If you show any of these signs
Try to raise both arms. Does
stroke care.
if it has “fallen asleep?” When
or
reading
a
simple
sentence?
or
symptoms,
you
should
call
one arm drift downward?
you smile, does one side of
Are your words slurred?
For more information on the signs and
9-1-1 immediately. Also, it is
your face droop? There are
very important that you let the
symptoms of a stroke, and to hear the stories
other signs and symptoms
health care workers and paraof stroke survivors, visit the Nash Health
that may involve your face and
medics know what time the
Care website at www.nhcs.org and go to
head. For example, you may
symptoms started.
“Patient Information” and then click “Educahave trouble seeing out of one
or both eyes and you may have
tional Videos” from the drop-down menu.
Am I having a stroke?
a sudden, severe headache
with no known cause.
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NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
[
“Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real.”
—Jules Verne
]
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
7
TURNING DREAMS INTO ACTION
From a launch pad in Florida, three Americans were catapulted to the
moon. They returned to Earth, landing in the Pacific Ocean, and were
assisted by a U.S. Naval vessel. The story may be familiar, but the
concept did not originate with NASA. In fact, this scenario was crafted
as a flight of pure fantasy in an 1865 novel by Jules Verne. While
Verne’s novel was uncannily prophetic, not all details made the transfer
to 1969—in Verne’s novel, the astronauts were shot out of a giant
cannon. In actuality, the technology that launched the astronauts into
space, the Saturn V rocket, was even more impressive. The rocket
stood 60 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty, weighed as much as 400 elephants, and created more power than 85 Hoover Dams.
Of course, it is much easier to imagine the future than to pursue it with careful and deliberate planning. In order to leap from the pages of fiction into the hallowed halls of history, every
contingency must be calculated years, sometimes decades, in advance. Every nut, bolt,
switch, piston, computer and light has to work with razor-sharp precision. To do otherwise
would not just spell failure, it would herald death and disaster.
We are all on voyages of discovery. Some tackle the vastness of space while others
search for medical breakthroughs. The desire for discovery is an innate part of our existence:
it allows us the capacity to dream, and by dreaming realize that we are all connected. The
world needs innovators, and while planning for a hospital expansion which will improve
health care service to our community for decades to come is not as glamorous as a historic
trip to the moon, it is no less remarkable. It transformed the world of our citizens. In 2012,
Nash Health Care set in motion an ambitious plan to to reach for the stars and to once again
transform local history.
More than 40 years ago, community leaders had a
dream of combining seven health care facilities into one state-of-the-art medical center. This vision was shared by a group of
determined individuals as they surveyed a tobacco field off of a dirt
road in Nash County. That dirt road
would eventually become Winstead
Avenue, and the dream would materialize and thrive as Nash General Hospital. Nash Health Care continues to build
upon the same promise made by those community leaders: to provide superior quality
health care locally.
Just as those community leaders
laid the plans for what would become the first all-private-room hospital in North Carolina, Nash Health
Care leaders are now pursuing the
blueprints for a brighter and better
Some of the early pioneers who helped make Nash
General Hospital a reality gathered for this photo
on the occasion of the hospital’s 25th Anniversary
celebration in 1996. Pictured: Elmer Daniel, 1971
County Commissioner; Bob Siler, 1971 County
Commissioner; William Stanley, 1971 Hospital
Board Member; and William Toney, 1971 Hospital
Board Member.
future for our families, our loved ones, and our community. It is this spirit of exploration that
echoes in our hearts and minds today. It is a drive to plan every detail so a better future can
emerge. It’s a part of the American spirit. It’s a part of who we are.
8
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
Courtesy of NASA
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
9
CULTIVATING THE CHARACTER OF SUCCESS
From left to right: Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom,
Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton.
Courtesy of NASA
To celebrate Nash Health Care’s
progress on this monumental
project, a topping out ceremony
was held in 2012. This celebration marks the highest point of
a construction project. Since the
project began:
• More than 30,000 cubic
yards of earth have been
moved
• More than 29 tons of
rebar have been used
• More than 7,000 linear
feet of curb and gutter
work have been completed
• More than 1,000 tons of
steel have been used
3
1
1. Architect’s rendering of the new Emergency Department expansion.
When completed, Nash Health Care will
Before he became an American icon for orbiting the
Department and heart center
earth onboard Friendship 7, John Glenn set a 1957 speed
represented years of plan-
record for coast-to-coast flight. During his tenure at the U.S.
ning and preparation before
Navy Test Pilot School, he flew from Los Angeles to New
the first shovel of dirt was
York in three hours and 23 minutes. While it wasn’t until
moved. This $57 million proj-
the space race that the Mercury astronauts became house-
ect represents the largest ex-
hold names for having “the right stuff,” their preparation for
pansion since the hospital
success began decades before their images graced LIFE
was built in 1971. The previ-
magazine covers. Before NASA, Alan Shepard had more
ous Emergency Care Center
than 8,000 hours of flying time and received his master’s de-
was built to accommodate
gree from the Naval War College. Gordon Cooper turned
40,000 patients a year, but actually treated an estimated
down a possible football scholarship to enlist in the
65,000 patients in 2012. The new facility, scheduled for com-
Marines. Gus Grissom had a degree in mechanical engineer-
pletion in 2014, will have the capacity to treat 90,000 pa-
ing from Purdue University, and after graduation, he enlisted
tients a year.
in the Air Force and fought in the Korean War. At President
But planning for the future does not stop there. Because
Eisenhower’s insistence, all of the Mercury 7 astronauts
20 percent of the patients at Nash General Hospital’s Emer-
were test pilots. The job of a test pilot was a risky endeavor
gency Care Center are under the age of 17—nearly double
where every flight could easily have been the last, a profes-
the amount of pediatric patients in other North Carolina
sion where there was no room for error. Preparation meant
emergency rooms—Nash Health Care realized there was a
a better chance to fly another day.
need in this community for an emergency department that
Before breaking new ground, a firm blueprint must be es-
catered specifically to children. Therefore, the steel beams
tablished. As the biblical proverb illustrates, a house built
and drywall that are steadily sprouting on the hospital cam-
upon sand will be washed away during the first storm of ad-
pus will also contain a Pediatric Emergency Department
versity. In 2012, the groundbreaking for a new Emergency
with a separate entrance and medical equipment specifi-
be one of eight hospitals in North Carolina
2. Employees volunteer at the latest Foundation Golf Tournament.
to have a dedicated emergency depart-
3. The Foundation Golf Tournament raised $126,337 toward the new Pediatric Emergency
Care Department.
ment for pediatric patients.
The Nash Health Care Foundation has
been instrumental in raising community
awareness and funding for a Pediatric
2
Emergency Department: Its second annual
Patrons Gala raised more than $194,000
be transferred to another facility, where the
and its most recent Golf Classic raised
procedure was often done by the same
$126,337.
Nash Health Care cardiologist. Through a
The expansion will also include a new
Members of the Nash Health Care Board of Commissioners pose
with hospital officials at the recent groundbreaking. Pictured are,
from left, Vincent C. Andracchio II, chairman of the Nash Health
Care Board of Commissioners; Steve Lawler, president of Vidant
Health; Rosa Brodie, secretary of the Nash Health Care Board of
Commissioners; Dr. Daniel Minior; Kay Mitchell, Jim Lilley, and
Leorita Hankerson of the Nash Health Care Board of Commissioners; Carl Daughtry, treasurer of the Nash Health Care Board of
Commissioners; Norma Turnage, chairman of the Nash Health Care
Foundation Board of Directors; Dr. Michael Crawford, Nash Health
Care Board of Commissioners; Larry Chewning, president and CEO
of Nash Health Care; Dr. David Varma, medical director of the Nash
Heart Center; Dr. Timothy Smith, Nash Health Care Board of Commissioners; Michael Bryant, Nash Health Care Board of Commissioners; and Don Raper NHCS Board of Commissioners.
home for the Nash Heart Center.
While Nash Health Care has always offered heart catheterizations, if a patient needed an
interventional procedure, such as a
stent placement, he or she would need to
partnership with Vidant Health, the Nash
Heart Center began offering stent
placements in 2010, and in
2012, the number of catherizations doubled. Being able to offer
these services locally means less
time spent in transit when seconds count.
Nash Heath Care, in cooperation with Vidant Health, held a ribbon-cutting and open house
celebrating the opening of the Middlesex Powell Clinic. Located off of Highway 231 South at
7540 Middlesex Corporation Parkway, this 5,600-square-foot primary care/urgent care clinic
offers diagnostic services including lab tests and basic radiology.
cally designed for children.
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NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
11
Sometimes, the miracle of birth may be
accompanied by unexpected complications,
and in 2012, Nash Health care opened its
In 2012, Nash Health Care continued suc-
Special Care Nursery. Now, when a new-
cessful programs that were launched ear-
born baby arrives prematurely or needs ex-
lier. The ER Express program allows those
tensive medical monitoring, he or she can
with non-life-threatening emergencies to
receive specialized treatment locally at the
make an appointment, which helps stream-
Nash General Hospital Women’s Center,
line the treatment process. The hospitalist
which also means that parents can stay
program grew, serving an average of
closer to loved ones in their own commu-
around 100 patients a day.
nity. Nash Health Care, with cooperation
Nash Health Care continued its Pursuit
from DukeMedicine, opened a Special Care
of Excellence, concentrating on the benefits
Nursery that features a 9-bed neonatal unit.
of Lean Health Care. Lean Health Care ex-
The Nash Special Care Nursery is a
amines processes and searches for a more
DukeMedicine affiliate. Dr. Kamlesh
cost-effective way to deliver services. This
Athavale, a board-certified neonatologist
Lean philosophy seeks input from employ-
with DukeMedicine, is a member of the
ees who are on the frontlines of patient
highly skilled neonatal team working with
care and hospital support services. By
health care professionals at Nash General
specifically targeting these areas, repetition,
Hospital.
waste, and inefficiency can be eliminated,
resulting in lower health care costs and
greater customer satisfaction.
The Special Care Nursery features:
Beth Pearsall (left)
manager of the Nash
Breast Care Center,
and Penny Hearn
(right) nurse navigator
with grant check from
the Susan G. Komen
Foundation.
• A 9-bed neonatal unit located adjacent
to the labor-delivery and mother-baby
units.
• 24-hour care staffed provided by skilled
neonatal team consisting of a boardcertified Duke neonatologist, Duke
neonatal nurse-practitioners, community
pediatricians and Nash neonatal nurses.
In 2012, the Nash
• A team specializing in resuscitating and
Breast Care Center also took
stabilizing ill babies and managing
a leading role in providing education and
common problems in newborns.
treatment to the community; the center re-
• Comprehensive care for newborn babies
ceived a Susan G. Komen grant and was
born prematurely from 32 weeks gestaBetty Karshner
tion and up or infants with breathing
and Blue Shield of North Carolina.
problems and suspected infections
at birth.
12
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
named a Center of Excellence by Blue Cross
Angeline Meredith
[
Neonatologist Dr. Kamlesh Athavale poses with new parent Christian Wiggins and her son, Curtis Lee Nicholson Jr. The Nash Special
Care Nursery is replete with state-of-the-art technology, from the tiny sensors that monitor the baby’s heart rate, respiration and oxygen
levels, to the sterile chambers designed to help premature babies continue lung development; these chambers, which use both positive
and negative pressure to help babies with underdeveloped lungs breathe, was an idea born out of NASA technology.
] [
Betty Karshner and Angie Meredith can dance on stage because of the Nash Joint Replacement Center’s skilled orthopedic surgeons and
the artifical joints used to replace their worn and damaged ones. Betty had both knees replaced while Angie had a hip replacement. Not
only was the material used to make the artifical joints a result of aerospace engineering but also the cordless tools used to drill and saw
during the operation. In fact, cordless tools were designed for the Apollo lunar landing missions.
]
Nash Health Care continued its quarterly
Town Hall meetings, providing employees
with information on hospital projects and
with the opportunity to ask questions of
hospital leaders.
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
13
P E O P L E
Listing the key players
presented by the North Carolina Hospital
who were vital to the suc-
make a difference anywhere in the world,
Association. The award was given in
cess of the space program
since there is so much need,” she said. “I
conjunction with the NCHA Trustee
sounds like a historic
love working as part of a team of commit-
Institute, an annual educational conference
“who’s who” roll call—
ted, dedicated, passionate people striving
for hospital trustees, executive leadership
Alan Shepard, John Glenn,
to make things better. I like to laugh with
and physicians.
Gus Grissom, Neil Arm-
my colleagues too, and enjoy each day.”
strong—but the name
Martha Chesnutt
Dr. Kelley says it was the sense of com-
Anthony Jenzano may not
munity commitment that drew her to Nash
joins Nash Health
ring a bell. He may not be
Health Care.
Care Board
found in many history books.
Jenzano was the director
Anthony Jenzano, past director of the Morehead Planetarium
“I liked the idea that I might be able to
Dr. Martha
“I was inspired by the idea of being part
Chesnutt, a physi-
of a system that really focused on serving
of the Morehead Planetar-
its community, and I loved the people I met;
cian specializing in internal medicine with
ium and was instrumental
the leadership team, physicians, board
Boice-Willis Clinic, was named to the Nash
in training the NASA astro-
members and managers,” she said. “Nash
Health Care Board of Commissioners.
nauts in celestial navigation,
Health Care seems to have such a wonder-
teaching them how to read
ful culture and is in a prime position to be-
star charts for direction in
come a real leader among health care
to recognize excellence by awarding four
case of equipment failure
systems in patient care and service. I want
nurses the quarterly DAISY Award and
to be part of that.”
recognizing nurse managers and assistants
(knowledge that was vital during Apollo 13’s ill-fated flight). Jenzano wasn’t a professor. He
had no PhD. But he did go the extra mile: Jenzano welcomed the visiting astronauts into his
Michelle Cordova (left), a nurse at Nash
Health Care, is presented with the DAISY
Award for outstanding nursing by Leslie
Hall, chief nursing officer.
In addition, Nash Health Care continued
Rebecca Davidson (left) and Chief Nursing
Officer Leslie Hall (right), present the
quarterly DAISY nursing award to Cricket
Richardson (center).
for excellence during the annual Nurses
Amy Winham
named director
of performance
improvement
Chapel Hill home, becoming a second family to them. Astronauts would even arrive a day
early for training in order to spend time with Jenzano and his family. When NASA considered moving its celestial navigation training program to Houston, the astronauts were
adamant: No. They wanted Jenzano.
Week celebration.
1
Amy Winham,
Despite advancements in technology, NASA knew there was no substitute for classroom
knowledge. In the early days of space technology, the ship guidance system drifted slightly
PT, of Nash Health Care, was named to
out of alignment, and a spacecraft skewed slightly off kilter could bounce off the earth’s at-
the dual role of director of performance
mosphere or be burned in re-entry. When success is measured by millimeters and degrees,
improvement and accreditation and regula-
teamwork becomes much more than an asset—it becomes a necessity.
tory coordinator for Nash Health Care.
At Nash Health Care, our most valuable asset is not measured in bricks and buildings,
In her new roles, Winham assists with
but in the hearts and minds of our employees who are always learning and always striving
preparing Nash Health Care for future
for ways to continually pursue excellence. Some of the notable achievements in 2012 were:
accreditation surveys as well as follow-ups
2
Deborah Wilson (left), is presented with
the DAISY Award by Vice President and
Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Michelle
Cosimeno.
required during the post-survey response
period. She also plays a key role in leading
Dr. Meera Kelley named CMO
Dr. Meera Kelley, formerly vice president of quality and patient
Nash Health Care’s performance improvement initiatives.
safety at WakeMed, was named the chief medical officer of Nash
3
Health Care.
Katelyn Davis (right), is presented with
the DAISY Award by Vice President and
Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Michelle
Cosimeno.
Dr. Kelley received her medical training at Northeast Ohio Medical
University. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Allegheny General Hospital
in Pittsburgh, and her fellowship in infectious diseases at UNC-Chapel Hill. Before her
six-year tenure at WakeMed, she served on the faculty of UNC-Chapel Hill as an infectious
diseases physician. She is a member of the North Carolina Medical Society, the American
College of Physician Executives, the American College of Healthcare Executives, and she is
a board member of the NC Center for Hospital Quality and Patient Safety.
Born in Michigan and raised in Ohio, Dr. Kelley says she was drawn to the medical field
because of the profound impact it can have on everyday lives.
14
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
Bryant receives award
Michael Bryant, former chairman of the
hospital’s board of commissioners, was
a recipient of a Trustee Service Award
Leslie Hall (left), chief nursing officer, and Larry
Chewning (right), president and CEO of Nash
Health Care, presented the annual nursing
awards to (1) Janice Alford, (2) Patricia AlfordHarrison, and (3) Sarah Roark.
[
The lightweight material used to make Larry Pendelton’s bicycle, his helmet, spandex shorts and moisture-wicking shirt are
in part the result of NASA research and development. So is Nash Health Care’s daVinci surgical robot. In the hands of skilled
Nash Health Care surgeons, the daVinci surgical robot assists in performing the most precise and delicate surgeries. Larry’s
minimally invasive surgery helped him quickly return to his Ironman training.
]
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
15
UNSUNG HEROES
Courtesy of NASA
Pictured are some of the Nash Health
Care leaders who voluntarily assisted
the Bassett Center with renovation
projects. They are, from left, John
Congelli, Pat Cunningham, Brian Agan,
Paul Matthews, Patrick Kennedy,
Chris Wood, Dean Wells, Greg Hutsell,
Thomas Parker, Rachel Sutton, David
Hinkle and (top) Ryan Griffin.
Despite popular belief, Neil Armstrong’s footprints
won’t remain on the moon forever … but without
atmosphere or volcanic activity, they will remain for a
long, long, long time. Armstrong, who passed away in
2012 at the age of 82, was a giant in aviation history,
but he was only one member of the team that helped
get Apollo 11 off the ground … and not all members
of this team were NASA employees. In a small town
in Delaware, seamstresses worked diligently stitching
together 21 layers of material, keeping precise
measurements within 1/64 of an inch. Quietly, for 42
years, around 80 young women of the International
Latex Corporation created the individually tailored
space suits. The importance of each stitch was a matter of life and death. Without the protection of the
space suits, the Apollo 11 astronauts would have died
in less than 30 seconds. For this reason, the space
suits were X-rayed, and if any stray pins were left in
them, the suit had to be done all over again.
The closest these women may get to national recognitions are the space suits on display in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. But it didn’t matter to
them. They were a part of something bigger than
themselves. They realized their efforts,
no matter how seemingly insignificant,
had a ripple effect throughout the entire community and throughout history.
Nash Health Care recognizes that
our impact on the community extends
far beyond the hospital walls, and caring for those around us isn’t a job that
ends when employees clock out for
the day.
Ryan Griffin and Lori
Strufe were named
“Health Care Heroes”
at a recent Nash Health
Care leadership training
session. They were presented the award for
outstanding patient
care and adhering to
the principles outlined
in Nash Health Care’s
Pursuit of Excellence.
Managers, administrators and employees completed several different renovation projects at the
Bassett Center shelter in Rocky Mount. Volunteers
painted rooms, renovated the family room, and
donated and assembled new playground equipment.
In addition, Nash Health Care also donated 12
computers to the facility.
“The Bassett Center helps a lot of citizens, and it
was very important to us to do something to help
them. We also wanted to demonstrate that we take
our commitment to our community seriously,” said
David Hinkle, senior vice president and chief information officer. “The hospital leadership felt that it was
important for us to continue to give back to the community in a visible, tangible way. Volunteering at the
Bassett Center has been extremely rewarding.”
Nash Health Care
also sought to recognize the unsung
heroes among us by
installing a Heroes
Wall, located in the
main lobby. The purpose of the Heroes
Wall is to honor members of the NHCS
family who have done
extraordinary things
for our patients, community and organization.
The first two heroes to receive recognition for
their inspirational dedication are Ryan Griffin and
Lori Strufe. Griffin was recognized for his community
volunteer efforts through the Pursuit of Excellence,
training others on the Cerner computer system,
and by lending his medical expertise to those in
need in Haiti and Zambia. Strufe wasn’t looking for
a heroic opportunity—the opportunity found her.
During lunch at Red Lobster, Strufe administered
CPR to an elderly lady who had lost consciousness
and was unresponsive.
We truly have heroes among us at Nash Health
Care, and these heroes help forge a path to the future.
Sarah Heenan uses the sander in order to prepare picnic tables
for repainting as a part of a service project for the Bassett Center.
Courtesy of NASA
16
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
17
PLANNING FOR TOMORROW
Memory foam. Cochlear implants. Scratchresistant eyeglasses. Water filters. All of
these modern marvels can trace their roots
back to NASA and the innovations that were
necessary for space travel. In the decade of
the space race, President Kennedy declared
that, “We don’t do these things because they
are easy. We do them because they are hard.”
Providing superior quality health care is not
easy. It is not easy to spend hours pouring
over blueprints to determine the best design
for a historical expansion. It is not easy to
evaluate every aspect of a work process and
ask “How can we do this better?” It is not
easy to look with courage, bravery and persistence at an unknown, and often uncomforting, future.
But we plan. We create. We innovate.
And we save lives. And we will save more.
The plans we made in 2012 will be instrumental in helping families and loved ones live
healthier, happier lives.
It is not easy.
But things that are worthwhile rarely are.
2011
2012
85,134,450
Current assets
Capital assets, net 123,250,275
148,582,523
Other assets
138,689,901
130,780,825
181,756,181
Total assets
356,967,248
451,226,907
Current liabilities
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
Total net assets
32,702,374
46,101,231
78,803,605
278,163,643
41,920,285
112,793,398
154,713,683
296,513,224
Total liabilities and
356,967,248
net assets
451,226,907
Assets
Revenue and
Expenses
2011
Total Operating
$208,011,771
Revenue
Total operating
203,101,972
expenses
Income from
4, 909,799
operations
Total nonoperat3,008,409
ing revenue, net
Increase in net
7,918,208
assets
18
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
2012
$219,897,003
218,009,854
1,887,149
16,462,432
18,349,581
Patrons Gala Raises
$192,645 for Foundation
The Nash Health Care Foundation raised more than
$192,000 at the third annual Patrons Gala. Pictured are,
from left, John Congelli, sponsorship committee chairman;
Larry Chewning, president and CEO of Nash Health
Care; Sharon Crestetto, Foundation board director and
event chairman; and Michael Bryant, former member of
the Nash Health Care Board of Commissioners.
The Nash Health Care Foundation kicked off its
2013 fundraising year with its third annual Patrons
Gala at the Benvenue Country Club. This black
tie dinner and dance raised $192, 645 for the new
The Patrons Gala Sponsorship Committee was instrumental in securing support from donors for the
event. Pictured are, front row, left to right: Sharon P. Crestetto, event chairman; John Congelli, SponsorPediatric Emergency Department, which is schedship Committee chairman; Susan M. Chase; and Jacob R. Parrott III. Back row, left to right, Patrick
uled to open in January 2014. Roughly 330 guests
Kennedy, Richard Holmes, P. Cameron Blalock III, Wesley Berry, Roger G. Taylor and Robert T. Skelton,
attended the gala, which was organized by Sharon
vice president of community development and executive director of the Foundation.
Crestetto, Foundation board director, who has
chaired the event for the past three years. Rodgers
sion in the history of the hospital, which includes a new Nash Heart
Builders was the presenting sponsor for the event.
Center as well as a new Emergency Department.
Out of the 130 hospitals in North Carolina, Nash Health Care
For more information about the Nash Health Care Foundation or
will be one of only eight hospitals in the state with a separate Pediatric
how to make a tax-deductible contribution toward the Pediatric EmerEmergency Department dedicated specifically to the needs of children.
gency Care Center, visit the website at www.nhcs.org.
The new Pediatric Emergency Department is part of the largest expan-
Cold Hands, Warm Heart
During the recent cold spell, why was
nurse Clay Seger standing outside
without his jacket? More than just
a “polar bear” stunt, Seger used the
falling temperatures as a chance
to raise money for the American
Cancer Society,
getting pledges
for every minute
he would stay
outside. He raised
more than $500
toward the cause.
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
19
Do I Have A
Professional Image?
The Human Resources and Administration departments worked together to
tighten-up our Professional Image Policy.
Employees will receive more information
from their respective managers/directors
regarding specific details of the policy.
Supervisors, managers, and directors will
be responsible for ensuring that employees
comply with the policy. Employees reporting to work in a manner inconsistent with
these standards for professional image will
be asked to correct the deficiency on their
own time before being allowed to begin
work. Employees failing to adhere to this
policy will be subject to disciplinary action,
up to and including termination.
A list of highlights from the revised policy
are listed below:
• Badges and badge cards distributed by
HR must be free of any adornments. Attached photos, stickers, pins, ornaments,
etc. are not permitted.
• Clinical employees: Hair must be pulled
back and off the collar when performing
patient care.
• Nail polish may be worn as long as it is
clear or a light, conservative color. Dark
polish is not allowed, as it reduces visibility of the space under the nail and could
prevent effective cleaning. Nail polish
must be a solid color and free of chips.
• No visible body piercing other than earrings.
• Earrings: No more than two earrings
per ear are allowed. Earrings may not extend more than two inches below the
earlobe.
• Rings: May not exceed a total of three
rings. When wearing rings, observe that
the integrity of gloves is not compromised or torn by sharp edges.
• Necklaces: May not exceed a total of
two necklaces. Necklaces may not interfere with ability to perform patient care.
• Visible tattoos/body art is not allowed.
• Tattoos/body art must be covered at all
times while working.
If you have any questions concerning the
policy, please speak with your manager or
check the Nash Health Care intranet by
clicking on “HR.”
20 NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
Nash General Hospital Lab
Earns Accreditation Honors
Nash Health
Care honors
volunteers
Members of the Nash
Health Care Volunteer
Auxiliary were recently
recognized at an awards
banquet honoring their
contributions to the health
care system. In 2012, 116
adult volunteers contributed
a total of 25,756 hours, and
47 junior volunteers conThe Nash Health Care Volunteer Auxiliary announced its officers for 2013. Pictured
tributed 5,012 hours.
are, from left to right, Wyatt Phillips, president; Mary Earp, secretary; Pat Grizer, hosWhile these numbers are
pitality committee chairwoman; Dina Tang, gift shop committee chairwoman; Sonny
impressive, even more imHaney, treasurer; Marian Haney, membership committee chairwoman; Doris Hunt,
pressive are the hospital proj- publicity chairwoman; Sharon Brantley, vice president; Jackie Ward, projects committee chairwoman; and Bunny Varnell, historian. Not pictured is Betsy Searcy, Junior
ects that volunteers have
undertaken to contribute to Volunteer committee chairwoman.
the health of the community—including a commitment to provide $75,000 over five years toward the
construction of the new Pediatric Emergency Department. Hospital volunteers also take the lead with
the holiday Lights of Love remembrance ceremony, which has become an annual community tradition.
The Volunteer Auxiliary also announced its officers for the 2013 year. Officers are: Wyatt Phillips,
president; Sharon Brantley, vice president; Mary Earp, secretary; Sonny Haney, treasurer; Pat Grizer,
hospitality committee chairwoman; Doris Hunt, publicity committee chairwoman; Jackie Ward, projects committee chairwoman; Dina Tang, gift shop chairwoman; Marian Haney, membership committee chairwoman; Bunny Varnell, historian; and Betsy Searcy, Junior Volunteers committee chairwoman.
For more information on the Nash Health Care Volunteer Auxiliary, or how to become a volunteer,
please visit the website at www.nhcs.org.
The following volunteers were honored
at the banquet:
50-99 Hours
Sylvia Bobbitt
Francois Fargea
Vickie James
Bill Knight
Brenda Martin
Beverly Rackley
100+ Hours
Shirley Baker
Steve Bass
Cora Lee Gold
Sonny Haney
Patricia Joyner
Toni Melton
Ahreaelle Milliken
Nancy Nelson
Kemp Philips
Shirley Poel
Greg Radford
Kathryn Schafer
Betsy Searcy
Lauren Sledge
Mamie Staton
Ben Turner
Jean Walston
200+ Hours
Eve Beasley
Louis Booth
Floyd Burnette
Kathy DeVille
Joe Radford
300+ Hours
Janice Bogdovics
John Denton
Vivian Easterling
Patsy Ezzell
Lucretia Perry
400+ Hours
Bonnie Bailey
Audrey Cooper
Arthur Fountain
Verline Harris
Lee Kilcollum
Gary Matthews
Helen Paszek
Joe Williams
Charlotte Winslow
500+ Hours
William Cooper
Doris Parham
Anthony Whitaker
600+ Hours
Joe Corales
Jack Karshner
Isla Nicometi
Ann Richau
700+ Hours
George Earp
Mary Earp
Doris Hunt
Betty Karshner
800+ Hours
Fenton Bailey
Anna Coppedge
Anne Hardy
Bill Holding
Chuck Watson
1,000+ Hours
Mavis Armstrong
Marguerite Brewer
Barry Goldstein
Deborah Hill
Sylvia Hull
Steve Leonard
Cynthia Moss
Terry Robidoux
Grace Williams
1,500+ Hours
Roy Barnes
Sharon Brantley
Mavis Cash
Elizabeth Jones
Patty Kennedy
Doris Joyner
Bruce Morris
Jane Rosenbloom
Gail Salsgiver
Leona Stevenson
Howard Tang
Beatrice Watson
Peggy Williams
2,000+ Hours
Pat Grizer
Marian Haney
Uteen Hargrove
Ann Hayes
Robert Jobe
Wyatt Phillips
Rena Rhodes
Janice Rogers
Dina Tang
Bunny Varnell
Tommy White
Thelma Wiggins
3,000+ Hours
Cindy Crowder
Wilma Dancy
Retha Farmer
Gertrude Kennedy
Margie Turner
5,000+ Hours
Jackie Chicoine
John Chicoine
Patsy Ferebee
Donna Smith
6,000+ Hours
Maeta Joyner
Phyllis Ratcliff
10,000+ Hours
Jackie Ward
The laboratory department at Nash Health Care was recently
honored with two accreditations: one from the AABB and one
from the College of American Pathologists. These national honors represent a dedication to the highest standards of clinical excellence and patient safety.
Accreditation is an intense process that involves inspection of
laboratory records, procedures, management and adherence to
national standards of care.
The AABB (formerly known as the American Association of
Blood Banks) is a non-profit, international organization that develops standards related to transfusion medicine and related biological therapies with the goal of optimizing patient and donor
care and safety.
“The AABB Accreditation process is voluntary,” said Dr.
David Eckert, medical director for the Nash General Hospital
laboratory. “We have sought AABB Accreditation because this
program assists facilities around the world in achieving excellence by promoting a level of professional and technical expertise
that contributes to quality performance and patient safety.”
The laboratory also received accreditation from the College of
American Pathologists (CAP), a medical society that serves more
than 18,000 physician members and is a world leader in laboratory quality assurance. During the accreditation process, inspectors examined everything from laboratory records to quality
control procedures.
“Preparing for an accreditation inspection is a rigorous
process,” Eckert said. “We are proud of the dedication and effort
demonstrated by our employees not just in preparation for the
inspection, but in providing accurate, timely information for our
patients and health care professionals.
The medical lab at Nash General Hospital recently received two accreditations: one from the College of American Pathologists and one from the
AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks.)
Pictured are lab employees, (back row, standing, left to right): Jason Miller,
information systems analyst; Sue Tidrick, chemistry supervisor; Maurice
Thompson, chemistry supervisor; Dianne Edmondson, hematology/POCT
supervisor; Gwen Williams, histology supervisor; Noreen Knudson, microbiology supervisor; Randy Duke, blood bank supervisor; (front row, seated,
left to right) Rachel Sutton, laboratory director; Michael Roth, MD associate pathologist; David W. Eckert, MD laboratory medical director; and
Arnette Davis, laboratory manager.
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
21
FOCUS ON PEOPLE
N A S H H E A LT H C A R E
Nash Health CareWelcomes TheseNew Employees
Additional employees will be featured in the next edition of Newsline.
Paula Alston
Cheryl Barnes
Tracey Ayscue
Kristen Barnes
Dawn Bennett
Caroline Boyd
Lauren Cade
Becky Coleman
RAD Intern, Imaging
RN, ECC
COTA, BTAR
RN, Gen Surg
RN, Womens Ctr
Amanda Edgerton
Bonnie Edwards
Jennifer Ezell
Randy Gilbert II
Cindy Griffin
Brenda Hardy
PCT I, CCU
RN, PACU
RN, Psy Svcs
Sr. Accountant
RN, ECC
Pat Acct Rep, R&D
Marvette MarquezVaughn
Hailey Massengill
NAII, CPSU
Med Tech, Lab Svcs
RN, CPSU
Crystal Cooper
Kelley Cox
RN, Psy Svcs
RN, ECC
Steve Henderson
Anita Howell
RN, Psy Svcs
Pat Acct Rep, R &D
Jimmena HuffmanHall
Heather Kiefer
Nancy Lawhorn
Lisa Macias
NAI, CPSU
Behav Hlt Spec, Psy
PCT I, ECC
RN, Gen Surg
Switchboard Operator, COM
Emergency Dept.
Quarterly
DAISY Award
Winners
Burnette Named
Retail Manager
To be eligible for a Daisy Award, all Nash
Health Care nurses:
• Must be an RN who has been employed by
Berrie Bunn of Rocky Mount, an LPN who works on the
Nash Health Care for the past 6 months
fourth floor of Nash General Hospital, and Dana Severini were
• Must have excellent performance evaluarecently honored with the quarterly DAISY Award for outtions by managers and supervisors
standing nursing.
• Must exemplify Nash Health Care’s stanA Nash County native, Bunn received her LPN training from
dards of performance.
Nash Community College, and she has worked for Nash
Berrie Bunn, an LPN at Nash
To learn more about the DAISY award, go to
Health Care for 11 years. During her 20-year nursing career,
Health Care, poses with her DAISY
www.DAISYfoundation.org.
she has worked with Nash OB-GYN and Carolina Urgent Care.
award for outstanding nursing.
On Bunn’s nomination form, Nash Health Care employee
Diane Turner wrote, “Over the past years I have watched and
admired Berrie. She is always positive to everyone. She
knows her patients and goes above and beyond the call of
duty to make sure their needs are met. She is a jewel.”
Severini’s nomination letter stated: “She is amazing and
very attentive to the needs of her patients. She is a true patient advocate. She was always a step ahead, continuously
updating me and my family. She really makes a difference in
patients’ lives. I will never forget the impact she had.”
The DAISY Award was created from the DAISY Foundation, which was established in 2000 by the family of J. Patrick
Barnes. Barnes experienced an 8-week hospitalization before
dying from complications of the auto-immune disease Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP). Barnes’s family established the DAISY Award because they were awestruck by the
Dana Severini (center) is honored with the quarterly DAISY award, which was presented
care and compassion that nurses provided not only to Barnes,
to her by manager Beth Gore (left) and Associate Nursing Officer Michelle Cosimeno.
but to everyone in his family.
Josh Burnette was
named retail manager of
Food Services of Nash
General
Hospital.
A resident of
Zebulon,
his culinary background includes
experience as general
manager and corporate
support opener for Lone
Star Steakhouse.
Burnette is dedicated
to providing superior customer service, and his upcoming projects include
installing credit card machines for both the hospitality shop (Montague’s
Deli) and the Courtyard
Café, improving nutritional signage, and implementing a real time “voice
of the customer” website
for Nash Health Care that
will allow a quick and
timely response to customer needs, according
to Mike Tamisiea, food
services director.
New Support Group for Heart/Lung Health
Nicole Montgomery
Buffy O’Neal
Brittney Parker
Shona Patel
Lindsey Price
Edith Rubio
Patricia Sledge
Taklay Smith
Excercise Spec, HealthFrist
Resp Care Prac, PULM
NAII, Medicine
CRNA, Anesthesia
RN, CCU
Med Tech. Lab
Resp Care Prac, PULM
REG & DIS
Morgan Simmons
Tammia Simmons
Margaret Tant
Tonya Thorne
Ugochukwu Umeh
Brandy Whitley
Sharese Williams
RN, Pediatrics
RN, CPSU
NAII, Gen. Surgery
RN, CPSU
RN, ECC
RAD Tech, Imaging
Patrick Wilson
REG & DIS
C
E
R
T
I
F
I
C
A
T
I
RN, ECC
O
Nurses Pass Fetal Monitor Instructor Certification
Velvie Zabel
RN, ECC
22
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
Second floor nurses Amy Jackson and Amanda Ray recently completed their Fetal Monitor Instructor Certification through the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses.
The certification is a part of the process to enable Nash General Hospital to provide its own fetal
monitoring educational information to the Labor and Delivery staff.
Ray
Jackson
Nash Health Care has combined the Healthy Hearts support group and the Better
Breathers support group to create a new “lunch and learn” support group that will focus
on the importance of cardiopulmonary health. You do not have to be a cardiac (heart) or
pulmonary (lung) patient to participate.
Cardiopulmonary Connections will meet the third Tuesday of every month at the
Rocky Mount Senior Center, where guest speakers will present educational information
on a wide variety of topics, including high blood pressure, diabetes, COPD, heart disease
and sleep apnea. These events include a light lunch.
For more information on the program, call Rich Jared at 962-3473 or the Rocky Mount
Senior Center at 972-1152.
NA students celebrate graduation
N
Pictured are, from left to right, Laquisha Mabry, Jennifer Merritt, Andrea Minton,
Monica Lawhorne, Doris Williams, Caitlin McIlravy, Emily Andrews and Megan
Matthews. Not pictured is program graduate Tracey Neal.
Nash General Hospital officially congratulated the most recent graduates of the nursing assistant II Hybrid Course through Nash Community College. The following participants are now registered with the North Carolina Board of Nursing as Certified Nursing
Assistant II (CNAIIs). Graduates included Laquisha Mabry, Jennifer Merritt, Andrea
Minton, Monica Lawhorne, Doris Williams, Caitlin McIlravy, Emily Andrews, Megan
Matthews and Tracey Neal.
NHC Newsline Vol 24, Number 1
23
Nash Health Care
Nonprofit
Organization
US Postage
It’s all about how we treat you
PAID
www.nhcs.org
Rocky Mount,
NC 27804
Permit No. 297
2460 Curtis Ellis Drive, Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Address Correction Requested
NHCS Newsline is published quarterly by the Public
Relations Department of Nash Health Care
Writer: Dawn Wilson
Editor: Jeff Hedgepeth
Comments and contributions are welcome.
Member of: VHA
The North Carolina Hospital Association
The American Hospital Association
Q&A
about the Diversity Council
How diverse is the workplace at Nash Health
Care? Members of the newly formed Diversity Council are examining how the workforce at Nash Health Care reflects the
demographics and diversity in the
surrounding community.
Following are some questions
and answers about this council,
including its purpose, activities
and developments.
What is the Diversity Council,
and why does Nash Health
Care have one?
Our mission of providing superior-quality health care means
we must provide care from welltrained and qualified professionals, and as a part of this mission,
it is also important that these
professionals are culturally competent and reflect the diversity
of our community. Studies have shown that
diversity in the workplace not only helps improve quality, but it also provides educational
opportunities for coworkers. It also promotes
higher customer satisfaction and increases
awareness and sensitivity for cultures different
from our own.
When was the council formed?
The first formal meeting was in August of
2012.
What does the Diversity Council do?
There are several facets to the council’s activities, which include analyzing survey data in
order to identify ways to improve employee
satisfaction. The committee also focuses on
these primary areas:
• Identifying training needs to enhance the
skills of staff to better meet the needs of patients from varied cultures, races, ethnic
backgrounds, and religions.
• Recruiting and retaining a diverse health
care workforce that reflects the demographics of our constituents.
• Identifying opportunities and methods to
What has the Diversity Council done in
2012?
The Diversity Council has been busy in
2012, assessing any employee training needs
and analyzing survey data. The council completed a video for employees that was shown
at the last Town Hall meeting. In 2013, the
council will also be working with Ascendient,
a health care strategy firm, to identify community health needs.Employees who wanted
to volunteer for the project had to apply to be
on the council.
Who is on the council?
Members of the Diversity Council are: (left to right) Yetty Bandele,
Tracey Dickerson, Dot Sollman,
Katie Davison, Harriet Harris,
Tonygia Lynch, Audrey McCarthy,
Cam Blalock, Lorne Whitehead,
Tekelia Styles, Chassidy Cunningham, and Charice Rosser.
improve patient satisfaction in diverse
populations.
• Assisting in enhancing leadership effectiveness related to management of diverse
employee population groups.
How many employees are on the Diversity
Council?
Ten to 12 employees will serve on the council.
These employees represent a diverse group,
reflecting different ethnicities, genders, and
religions.