Holiday Greetings from CEO Robert Otwell - Maury Regional ...

THE VITALINK
Maury Regional Medical Center November 2008 Vol. XXVII, Issue 11
Home Services Ranked Among Top 25 Percent of Home
Health Providers
Maury Regional Home Services announced that it has been named
to the 2008 HomeCare Elite, a compilation of the most successful Medicare-certified
home health care providers in the United States. This is
the third consecutive year that Maury Regional Home Services has
been recognized in this annual review that identifies the top 25 percent
of agencies, ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality
outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance.
“Our staff strive to provide outstanding patient care by following
best practices that are proven to improve patient outcomes. Their
commitment to excellence has benefitted thousands of patients in
our community,” said Debbie Bratton, director of home services.
Home Services employee Andrea Yeiser, RN,
is pictured with patient Nick Nicholas, providing
excellent care in the comfort of his home.
Earlier this year, Maury Regional Home Services was also
awarded the Four-Star Excellence Award from Professional Research
Consultants, the firm specializing in market research exclu-
Holiday Greetings from CEO Robert Otwell
With the end of 2008 fast approaching, I want to wish the employees, medical staff,
board of trustees, and volunteers a Merry Christmas and bright new year. Your continued
dedication to the medical center and those we serve is much appreciated and has
resulted in 2008 being a successful year at Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC).
Our accomplishments during the past year have included:
see Home Services, page 7
Expansion of Services & Facilities
• Attaining three-year accreditation as a chest pain center from the Society of Chest
Pain Centers
• Opening the Wound Center, which features two hyperbaric chambers
• Adding 15 new physicians to the medical staff
• Completing a three-year Surgical Services expansion and renovation, including a new vascular suite
• Acquiring digital mammography technology for patients of the Maury Regional Women’s Center
• Receiving re-accreditation from the Commission on Cancer for the Cancer Center at MRMC
• Installing a new patient care documentation system, allowing physicians and clinical staff real-time access to
patient documents in a secure system
• Attaining nuclear medicine and radiology accreditations from the American College of Radiology
• Attaining laboratory accreditations from the College of American Pathologists and the American Association of
Blood Banks
• Establishing the neonatal Cuddler program and Mended Hearts support program for heart patients, two new
volunteer programs
• Becoming a tobacco-free campus to encourage and promote healthy lifestyles
• Beginning “Catering to You,” a personalized patient dining service, in the Food and Nutrition Department
• Establishing a Green Team to take additional steps towards becoming a more “green” organization
see Holiday Greetings, page 5

THE VITALINK
New Employees
October 2008
Coding
Sherry Russell
Food and Nutrition
Douglas Gundlach
Home Services
Sharon Kimmel
Imaging
Tracie Dunn
Information Technology
Krashawn Burton
Laboratory
Andrea Jill Price
Lewis Health Center
Karen Frazier
Nursing
Brenda Adams
Melinda Nicole Andrews
Dorene Bevacqua
Catherine Michelle Bradbary
Kasie Brown
James Childress
Kelly Eller
April Dawn Gower
Natasha Holt
continued on page 3
The VitaLink is published monthly for
Maury Regional Medical Center through the
Marketing Department. Distribution is to
employees, retirees, members of the medical
staff, board of trustees, advisory board, Maury
County Commission, and volunteers.
For address corrections, please
contact the Human Resources Office.
Editor: Rita Williams
Designer & Copywriter: Kat Hunter
Proofreader: Jan Varnado
1224 Trotwood Avenue
Columbia, TN 38401
MRMC Welcomes New Physician
Heather A. Michalak, M.D., a specialist in pediatrics,
has joined the medical staff at Maury Regional Medical
Center. She is associated with Drs. Claudia S. Andrews,
Carol H. Broadway, Rufus R. Clifford, Jr., Patricia C. Davis,
T. Wade Denney, Tiffany P. Hill, Mary E. Overton, and
Anthony L. Smith of Columbia Pediatric Clinic.
Dr. Michalak received her medical degree from The
Pennsylvania State University School of Medicine in Hershey,
Pennsylvania. She completed a pediatrics internship
and residency at Strong Memorial Hospital – Golisano Children’s Hospital,
University of Rochester, Rochester, New York. She is board certified in
pediatrics.
Women’s Center Hosts Think Pink
Luncheon
The Women’s Center
hosted the annual Think Pink
Luncheon in recognition of
Breast Cancer Awareness
Month on October 29 at
Columbia Academy’s Vest
Hall.
Nearly three hundred
people attended the event
which raised approximately
$8,000, according to Dana
Salters, women’s services
coordinator. All proceeds
will fund mammograms for women in the community unable to afford this
service.
Guest speakers at the event were Joan Cronan, women’s athletic director
at the University of Tennessee, and Portia Glenn, a breast cancer survivor. Dr.
Susan Gray served as the master of ceremonies and Eddie Ables conducted
an auction for an item donated by Helm’s. Music was courtesy of Rick Mullen.
Sponsors for the luncheon were All Occasion Flowers & Gifts, Columbia
Academy, DJ’s Rental, Doris’ Flowers & Gifts, Douglas White Florist, Family
Bakery & Catering, Helm’s, Lively Florist, Maury Regional Medical Center,
and Sullivan’s Florist.
2
Pictured at the luncheon are (l-r) Dr. Gray;
Glenn; Cronan; Diane Perry, administrative
director of oncology services; Pam Hibbs, administrative
director of women’s and children’s
services; and Salters.
Tar Wars Combats Youth Tobacco Use
Maury Regional Medical Center and members of the medical staff have
teamed up on an initiative called “Tar Wars” to educate fifth graders in local
school systems about the hazards of tobacco use. Tar Wars is a program of the
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) that is implemented in classrooms
across the U.S. and abroad by committed health care volunteers. The
ultimate goal of the program is to discourage tobacco use among the nation’s
youth prior to the age when the decision to smoke or chew tobacco is made.
“Tar Wars is an excellent way to reach out to students and educate them
about the harmful effects of smoking before they start,” said Dr. Charles Ball,
see Tar Wars, page 7

THE VITALINK
Organizational Announcements
Valerie Yeiser has accepted the position of outpatient
cardiology nurse manager. Yeiser has been with
MRMC for nine years. She has over three years of critical
care experience and has worked in the Cardiac Cath Lab
for six years.
“Valerie’s experience and expertise is a wonderful asset
to the cardiopulmonary service line. We are very excited
she accepted this position,” said Cathy Malone, administrative
director of cardiopulmonary services.
MRMC Recognizes Retiree
Betty Wolfe was recognized at a reception
on October 22 for more than 26
years of service to the medical center.
Wolfe was an RN in the Pediatric Unit.
“Betty has inspired many people
through her career in nursing. In addition
to raising nine children of her own,
Pictured from left to right are Deborah
Lumpkins, VP of nursing services;
Wolfe, Foster and CEO Robert Otwell
at Wolfe’s retirement reception.
Betty has been a dedicated care giver
to pediatric patients for many years. She
will be greatly missed,” said Linda Foster,
pediatric nurse manager.
NICU Celebrates Two Year Anniversary
In celebration of its
second anniversary, the
Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit (NICU) at MRMC
hosted a reunion on October
25. NICU graduates
and their families were invited
to attend the event in
the medical center cafeteria,
which featured a family
portrait area, drawings for
baby supplies and toys,
and crafts for the children.
Maury Regional Medical Center’s NICU, in a partnership with Vanderbilt
Children’s Hospital, began serving patients October 16, 2006. Since
opening, the eight-bed unit has served nearly 300 patients, whose stay in
the nursery is typically several weeks.
Pictured above is former NICU patient, Parker Sykes, and his father
Jake Sykes with two of the nurses who cared for Parker during his time
in the nursery. The nurses are (from left to right) Georgia Arms and Dacia
McEvers.
3
New Employees
continued
Nursing, continued
Nikita McGuire
Cindy Massey
Leigh Oakley
Shea Terry
Jessica Tidwell
Patient Management
Michelle Doty
Pharmacy
Miranda Adams
Victoria Gowan
Britani Honn
Karen Patterson
Tameka Smith
Physical Medicine
Michelle Cheri Pauley
Plant Operations
Michael Scott Baltimore
Security
Jeremy Hawkins
Roger Hinson
Promotions
Annette Basilius
from nurse tech, to RN, 3W
Joyce Chandler
from representative,
to analyst, Patient Access
Kimberly Dickson
from representative,
to analyst, Patient Access
Philipa Foster
from representative,
to analyst, Patient Access
Melissa Hensley
from analyst,
to supervisor, Patient Access
continued on page 4

THE VITALINK
Promotions
continued
Glenda Jimenez
from analyst,
to supervisor, Pre-Service
Lydia Johnson
from representative,
to analyst, Patient Access
Misty Kelley
from pre-service analyst/team lead,
to scheduling/order management
supervisor, Pre-Service
Felicia McCain
from representative,
to analyst, Patient Access
Amanda Neelley
from representative,
to analyst, Patient Access
Bonnie Nelson
from unit secretary,
to office coordinator, Emergency
Department
Pam Rummage
from representative,
to analyst, Patient Access
Shantel Survant
from representative,
to analyst, Patient Access
Tera Scaife
from technologist,
to weekend coordinator, Imaging
Shelia Staggs
from representative,
to analyst, Patient Access
Michelle Willingham
from representative,
to analyst, Patient Access
Staff Development Classes for 2009
* = Renewal Course ** = Provider Course
Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS)
January 9*
January 14**
January 22*
February 6*
February 13**
February 23*
March 9*
March 12**
March 19*
March 29*
April 6*
April 13**
April 16*
April 29*
May 8*
May 15**
May 20*
June 2*
June 16*
June 19**
June 29*
July 7*
July 13**
July 17*
July 30*
August 10*
August 12**
August 28*
September 9*
September 17**
September 19*
September 29*
October 12**
October 15*
October 26*
November 9*
November 12**
November 20*
December 8*
December 18**
December 21*
October 6*
For this class, all employees are required to renew in–or prior to–the month
they expire. Books are available from area managers or clinical educator.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) †
January 29-30**
February 25*
March 23-24**
April 14*
May 12-13**
June 3*
July 9-10**
August 7*
September 3-4**
September 28*
October 28-29**
November 16*
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) †
February 10*
March 5-6**
April 22*
June 9-10**
Neonatal Resuscitation Provider (NRP) †
January 14-15**
February 12*
February 11-12
April 27-28
Bedside Triage (CEU)
February 24
May 15
IABP (Basic)
March 10
June 2
March 17-18**
May 12*
June 22-23
August 13-14
September 1
November 24
August 11
November 3
July 20*
September 10-11**
June 23-24**
August 18*
September 23-24
November 10-11
Pacemakers
February 23
April 7
IABP (Advanced)
February 10
May 14
December 2-3**
December 11*
October 30*
Nov. 30-Dec. 1**
October 7-8**
November 3*
Pediatric Emergency Assessment Recognition & Stabilization (PEARS) †
January 21 April 17 July 14 November 13
Dysrhythmia S.T.A.B.L.E. †
April 30
September 17
September 2
December 4
August 25
October 27
Basic Preceptor Physical Assessment 12-Lead Interpretation
January 16
February 18
February 26-27
April 30
May 22
May 4-5
September 18 August 18
September 15-16
December 3 November 2
November 18-19
All classes will be held in the Staff Development classroom unless otherwise noted on
the calendars. Staff may register for courses on the on-line learning management system.
Classes with a † require a deposit and manager approval. For more information
about times and locations of classes, contact Staff Development at extension 2334.
4

THE VITALINK
Holiday Greetings, from page 1
Community Outreach
• Offering free community screenings (child speech and hearing, prostate
cancer, and oral, head and neck cancer)
• Hiring of a community health nurse by the foundation
• Conducting free screenings and education programs for Columbia
Housing Authority residents
• Hosting a free Family Expo event at Columbia Mall
• Conducting quarterly Women Helping Women educational programs
• Attaining top fund-raiser for Relay for Life, United Way and Maury County
Heart Walk
• Participating in Operation School Supplies to benefit children in the
Maury County School System
• Sponsoring Tar Wars, an anti-tobacco program for fifth graders
• Offering community cardiopulmonary resuscitation programs
• Offering support groups for those affected by cancer, an ostomy, diabetes,
infertility and more
Awards and Recognitions
®
• Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospital as a result of 2007 national benchmarks
for success study
• Achievement Level Recognition from the Tennessee Center for Performance
Excellence
SM
• American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines –Stroke
(GWTG–Stroke) Bronze Performance Achievement Award
• Home Services named one of the 2008 HomeCare Elite (Top 25 percent
in the nation) and received Four-Star Excellence Award from Professional
Research Consultants
• Emergency Medical Services received the 2008 Bob Thomas Advanced
Life Support Service Award by the Tennessee Ambulance Service Association
It is your support, along with the members of our community who turn to us
for their health care needs, that has allowed us to make great strides in 2008.
We ask for your continued support as we look forward to the new year.
Retiree Luncheon
Eighty-five former MRMC
staff members attended the
retiree luncheon that was held
on October 30 in the Auxiliary
Conference Room. The attendees
had given a total of
2,370 years of service to the
medical center.
CEO Robert Otwell and
Deborah Lumpkins, vice president
of nursing services/chief
nursing officer, were the featured
speakers at the event.
“It was wonderful to reminisce with the retirees. Their continued dedication
to and love for the medical center is heartwarming,” said Otwell.
Bloodmobile Update
The Bloodmobile on October 27
collected 113 productive units. This
was the most
p r o d u c t i v e
drive at Maury
Pictured is Willomae
Hamilton, who received
a certificate of appreciation
from the Red
Cross for reaching an
eight-gallon milestone
of donated blood.
Regional Medical
Center
since August
2005. This
drive came in
at 133 percent
of goal.
The next
Bloodmobile is
scheduled for
Monday. January
19, 2009.
Infertility Support
Group Established
Maury Regional Medical Center
conducted the first meeting of its Infertility
Support Group on October 23.
During this seminar, Julie Heffington,
childbirth coordinator, discussed
infertility treatments, medications,
nutrition, exercise, in vitro fertilization
(IVF), intra-uterine insemination (IUI)
and much more.
“We are pleased to be able to offer
this support group for our community,”
said Heffington. “With infertility
on the rise and the advancements
made in treatment options, we felt it
was important to offer this service that
enables those experiencing problems
with fertility to learn and gain support
from those who are experiencing the
same challenges.”
The infertility support group is
open to any couple experiencing
difficulty conceiving. The next meeting
will take place December 4 at 6
p.m. at the Jameson Inn. For more
information, call Julie Heffington at
490.7046.
5

THE VITALINK
United Way Award
The most recent MRMC United
Way chairpersons were each honored
with a Spirit Award from the
United Way for their exceptional
commitment, leadership and creativity
in coordinating the campaigns of
the last three years. Debbie Bratton,
Lisa Chambers and Kim Edwards accepted
the awards at a recent United
Way board meeting.
“This award really goes to all
employees who have so generously
donated to this cause throughout the
years. It is because of all of them that
we have been so successful,” said
Chambers, 2008 chairperson.
Pictured are Edwards, Bratton and
Chambers with their award.
Community Outreach
F&M Health Fair
Approximately 100 employees of
First Farmers and Merchants Bank
(F&M) visited the health fair booths
hosted by MRMC on November 18
and 19.
Services offered were blood pressure
checks, target and resting heart
rates, cholesterol and glucose screenings,
body mass analysis, pulmonary
screenings and dietary counseling. All attendees
were also given personal counseling
based on their screening results.
Pictured is Mindy Girouard, dietitian, at
the health fair with an F&M employee.
6
Foundation News
Foundation Uses Special Needs Fund
to Benefit Communities
More than 270 requests in four different counties
have been answered with assistance from the Maury Regional
Healthcare Foundation Special Needs Fund. The
Special Needs Fund was established to provide financial
resources to patients in need of medication, transportation, medical equipment
or other health care needs.
The Primary Health/Minor Care
Clinic recently received $1,000 from
the foundation. “Twenty-four clinic
patients have benefitted from this
fund in the past year. Our patients in
need are so thankful for the help they
have received,” said Carol Holden,
Primary Health/Minor Care Clinic coordinator.
The Special Needs Fund has
assisted 13 patients from the Lewis
Health Center (LHC) with purchasing
their much needed medication, for
Darlene Baxter (center), executive director
of the foundation, is pictured delivering
a check from the Special Needs Fund
to Primary Health/Minor Care Clinic staff
Holden (left) and Barbara Hinson, FNP.
example insulin and antibiotics. “The Special Needs Fund is making a difference
in the lives of Lewis County residents who need medication but would
not be able to obtain them without this help from the foundation,” said Dr.
Dustin Flowers, director of LHC.
The foundation board also recently approved the purchase of helmets
and children’s car booster seats to patients who may have lost or damaged
these items in an accident or other circumstance.
Reminder about Open
Enrollment
As a reminder, the open enrollment period
for employee benefits will be held December 1-15. During
this time, benefit meetings will be scheduled and employees will have
the opportunity to meet individually with a benefits counselor to discuss
all benefits options, including plan changes for 2009. Dates and times will
soon be posted on medical center bulletin boards as well as e-mailed to all
employees. Employees are encouraged to take the opportunity to attend
one of the group meetings as well as a one-on-one session with a benefits
counselor to learn about the following:
• Changes to the existing Blue Cross Blue Shield plan
• Flexible spending accounts – addition of health care and dependent
care accounts
• Colonial life cancer insurance – replaces AFLAC cancer insurance
• Colonial universal life and colonial term life – replaces Unum Provident
term and universal
For questions, please contact Connie Lentz or Cindy Wilmore in Human
Resources/Benefits at extension 1096.

THE VITALINK
Letters of Thanks
To Maury Regional Medical Center:
We wanted to thank you for providing
us with flu shots again this
year. We very much appreciate the
time and expense that is involved.
Thank you very much!
~Whitthorne Faculty and Staff
(Whitthorne is MRMC’s
Partner-in-Education school)
Home Services,
from page 1
sively for health care that conducts
the hospital’s patient satisfaction surveys.
“The 2008 HomeCare Elite winners
exemplify a commitment to providing
their patients with optimum care while
performing at the highest level,” said
Nancy Buller, senior director of marketing
communications at OCS, Inc. “We
congratulate Maury Regional Medical
Center on being one of the Top 100
home care agencies in the country.”
The 2008 HomeCare Elite is the
only performance recognition of its
kind in the home health industry. The
2008 HomeCare Elite is brought to
the industry by OCS, Inc., the leading
provider of health care informatics,
and DecisionHealth, publisher of
home care’s most respected independent
newsletter Home Health Line.
The entire list of the 2008 HomeCare
Elite agencies can be viewed by visiting
www.ocsys.com.
Tar Wars, from page 2
medical director at Maury Regional
Medical Center. “The lesson plans
consist of a pre-activity, a one-hour
classroom presentation and a followup
poster contest. The children seem
to really enjoy the program each year.”
Dr. Ball is spearheading a team
of physicians and staff members who
will each visit local schools and present
the anti-tobacco program. Presentations
began November 20 and
will continue until December 16.
Morrow (center) is pictured with (l-r)
Wright and Sharon Dobbins, respiratory
care coordinator.
7
Service Champion of the Month Award
Melissa Morrow, respiratory therapist,
was named October’s Service
Champion of the Month. Morrow has
been an employee of the medical center
for more than two years.
“Melissa puts others before herself and
is always so caring to her patients and coworkers.
She is very knowledgeable and
compassionate. We’re very proud of her.
This recognition is well deserved,” said
Christy Wright, director of respiratory care.
Auxiliary Makes Great Strides
The Auxiliary has grown and enhanced services within the past several
months, according to Cindy Fox, director of volunteer services.
“The Auxiliary hosted a very successful
men’s recruitment breakfast
on October 22 with 11 guests joining
us. The event was a lot of fun and we
had some great guest speakers telling
about their duties as volunteers
and how it has personally benefited
them as well as our medical center,”
said Fox.
At the Auxiliary bake sale on November
14, volunteers made $2,537
on the sale of baked goods and sold
Pictured above are several of the attendees
of the men’s recruitment breakfast,
held on October 22.
53 Auxiliary cookbooks for an additional $530. The bake sale benefits Auxiliary-funded
projects requested by the medical center.
The Auxiliary Gift Shop has recently begun carrying used paperback and
hardback books. The Gift Shop will host an open house on December 11,
from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Samples of Aspen Mulling Spice and cookies will
be offered.
Students Donate to Pediatric Unit
The eighth grade leadership
class at Whitthorne Middle School
chose the Pediatric Unit at Maury
Regional Medical Center as their
Make-A-Difference Day project.
With the help of donations from
Dollar General and Arby’s, students
collected items and assembled
goodie bags for pediatric
patients.
“We are very grateful for those
who coordinated this program and worked so hard to collect and package
the items. I know that our patients will enjoy every treat and special gift,”
said Linda Foster, pediatric unit nurse manager.

Non Profit Org.
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PAID
Columbia, TN 38401
Permit No. 710
Maury Regional Medical Center
1224 Trotwood Avenue
Columbia, Tennessee 38401
Return Service Requested
December Calendar of Events
1 2 3 4
New Employee Orientation
(8 a.m., Auxiliary Conf. Room,
call 380.4017)
Expectant Parent Class: Labor
(7-9 p.m., call 490.7046)
6
Free Tours of Labor & Delivery
for expectant parents and families
(9:30 a.m., 490.7046)
Expectant Parent Class:
Post Partum
(10 a.m.-noon, call 490.7046)
Children’s Christmas Party
for the children and grandchildren
of MRMC employees
(9-11 a.m. or 2-4 p.m., Cafeteria)
11
Holiday Hugs
gift drop off
(8 a.m.-5 p.m., Auxiliary
Conf. Room)
Employee Christmas Party
(2-4 p.m. or 10:30-11:30 p.m.,
Cafeteria)
Mammography, Massage &
Makeovers
(4-7 p.m., Women’s Center, call
490.7435)
New Employee Orientation
(8 a.m., Auxiliary Conf. Room,
call 380.4017)
Diabetes Education Group
(11:30 a.m., Private Dining
Room 1, call 540.4324)
Expectant Parent Class: Delivery
(7-9 p.m., call 490.7046)
13 15
Expectant Parent Class:
Breast Feeding
(10 a.m.-noon, call 490.7046)
Breast Feeding Support Group
(11 a.m.-1 p.m., West
Seventh Church of Christ,
call 490.7074)
Free Blood Pressure Check
(9:30-10:30 a.m., Senior Center,
call 381.1111, ext. 4343)
Expectant Parent Class:
Baby Basics
(7-9 p.m., call 490.7046)
Infertility Support Group
(6-7:30 p.m., Jameson Inn, call
490.7046)
Free Blood Pressure Check
(7:30-8:30 a.m., Columbia Mall,
call 381.1111, ext. 4343)
8 9 10
Holiday Hugs is a program designed to provide gifts
to Maury County elementary school children in need.
Holiday Hugs
gift drop off
(8 a.m.-5 p.m., Auxiliary
Conf. Room)
25
Merry Christmas!
29
Expectant Parent Class:
Breast Feeding
(7-9 p.m., call 490.7046)