SPRING 2007Building on Development SuccessesWe’ve had a wonderful developmentprogram here at <strong>Emanuel</strong> <strong>Medical</strong>Center, thanks to a community that hasgenerously supported a wide varietyof giving programs such as LegacyCircle, endowment scholarships, hospiceprograms, individual program giving,memorials, tributes, and general donations.The hospital’s Board of Director recentlycreated the Development Committee tobring new ideas and giving opportunitiesto <strong>Emanuel</strong>. In addition to the wonderfulwork of Legacy Circle – the annual sixweekfund drive raised $4.02 million inthe past 3 1 / 2 years – we want to examineother giving programs such as bequests,planned giving, trusts, foundations, andmajor gifts.The Development Committee is madeup of a mix of community, business, andhospital leaders. The idea is to havemembers that will bring new ideas fromoutside the hospital and the board.The following motivated members make upthe first-ever Development Committee:• Bob Field, co-owner of TurlockAuto Plaza• Bill Gibbs, owner of Gibbs Maintenance• Ron Hillberg, Attorney• Don Jackson, C.E.O., Foster Farms• John Jeter, C.E.O., Hilmar CheeseCompany• Terrie King, materials managementbuyer, <strong>Emanuel</strong> <strong>Medical</strong> Center• Jennifer Larson, co-owner, Kirk LarsonConstruction• Roger Lewis, M.D.• Janet Sanchez, founder of the Festivalof Trees event• John Sigsbury, President and CEO,<strong>Emanuel</strong> <strong>Medical</strong> CenterThe Board of Directors has highgoals for the group. The DevelopmentCommittee will broaden our effortsand build on our many developmentsuccesses. This committee will keep theBoard closely tied to development andthe community.John R. Sigsbury, President, CEOJennifer C. Larson, Board ChairNew Board MemberLongtime Turlockbusinessman andgrocer Jim Palliosis the newestmember of the<strong>Emanuel</strong> <strong>Medical</strong>Center Boardof Directors.Jim Pallios“Jim is a wonderfulexample of the kind of board membersthat have been recruited here,” saidJohn Sigsbury, president and C.E.O. of<strong>Emanuel</strong>. “His family has been here forgenerations and is well known in thecommunity. The family has been a greatsupporter of <strong>Emanuel</strong> and is committed tohealthcare in the community.”Pallios, 48, is a partner in the FreshMarket Grocery Company, whichoperates Village Fresh Market in Turlockand OakRidge Fresh Market in Oakdale.A past chairman of the CaliforniaIndependent Grocers Association, Palliosrecently attended his first <strong>Emanuel</strong> boardmeeting. He said Sigsbury and JenniferBOARD MEMBERSJennifer Larson- ChairWalter de Bruyn- Vice ChairArt DeRooy- TreasurerJohn Ferrari- SecretaryTom Wilson, M.D.- Chief, <strong>Medical</strong> Staff, ex-officioAmin Ashrafzadeh, M.D.- Vice Chief, <strong>Medical</strong> Staff, ex-officioJoseph Higgins, M.D., PhD.,- Secretary, <strong>Medical</strong> Staff, ex-officioJim AhlemJohn R. Sigsbury- President & C.E.O., ex-officioLarson, board chair, helped to get him upto speed.“There’s a lot of acronyms used that I needto familiarize myself with,” he said. “I’mexcited to be a part of <strong>Emanuel</strong>. Theboard is a good cross-section of smartthinkingpeople. I hope I can do my part.”David Dwight- ex--officioBob FieldWade FullmerRob HillbergJim PalliosTom SperryMarlene Stante2
SPRING 2007New Chief Of StaffDr. Tom Wilsonthis year beganhis second stint asChief of Staff of<strong>Emanuel</strong> <strong>Medical</strong>Center. Hereplaced Dr.Roger Lewis.Dr. Tom Wilson“It’s really rare to have someone servetwice. It’s a hard job,” said John Sigsbury,president and C.E.O. of <strong>Emanuel</strong>, aboutWilson’s second term as Chief of Staff.“His dedication to patient care andphysician relations makes him perfectfor this leadership role. I love workingwith him.”Wilson, 55, said the position definitely ismore demanding of time than in 1996,when he last filled the top doctor spot.“I did this job 10 years ago and it didn’ttake as much time,” said Wilson. Inthe last decade, he said, <strong>Emanuel</strong> hasgrown its pool of patients, expanded itsoperating room and opened the newCritical Care Center.“We’re capable of taking care of peoplewith much more acute problems than 10years ago,” he said.Today, Wilson, who has served on<strong>Emanuel</strong>’s medical staff since 1981,was elected by his fellow physicians tocoordinate the quality of medical care,credentials and challenges for more than300 physicians.He conservatively estimates the extraduties add five hours a week to hisalready busy schedule.“I’m committed to serving the communityand the quality of healthcare,” saidWilson. “It’s an opportunity to serve thecommunity and hospital.”Wilson and his family came to Turlock25 years ago after completing his familypractice residency at the Universityof California, Davis. He did hisundergraduate work at UC Davis andreceived a medical degree from theAutonomous University of Guadalajarain 1977.He and Dr. Ron Johanson in 1981 startedthe Family <strong>Medical</strong> Group in Turlock.Located at 911 E. Tuolumne Road, thefacility has grown to five physicians andfour physician assistants on staff.Wilson and his wife Cindy, a nurse inOutpatient Surgery at <strong>Emanuel</strong>, have beenmarried 28 years and have four children.Daughter Elissa is a marriage andfamily counselor. Emily is a nurse in theProgressive Care Unit at <strong>Emanuel</strong>. Laureland her husband attend college inDallas and son Ryan is a freshman atCalifornia Polytechnic State University,San Luis Obispo.Grateful for New Critical Care Center(Cont. from page 1)Hirschkorn, who formerly owned andoperated Turlock Ambulance for 32 years,said he gave the <strong>Emanuel</strong> ER staff andfacility a high rating.“Fantastic,” he said about his care.“I couldn’t have asked for anything better.How the staff treated me was superb.”Hirschkorn’s wife, Dorene, also hadspecific praise for the nurses.“We really truly appreciated the nurses onthe telemetry floor,” she said. “They werereally great.”The couple said patients and staff bothbenefit from the new ER facility.“It’s larger and easier for them to getaround,” said Roy. “It’s easier foreveryone to work.”Dorene added the new larger secondfloorCritical Care Center rooms madeher husband as comfortable as possibleduring his stay.“He had a huge room with a flat-screenTV, a huge bathroom and a wonderful airbed that prevented bed sores,” she said.<strong>Emanuel</strong> is bucking the medicalindustry trend of closing emergencydepartments. According to the Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) in Atlanta, the number of hospitalThe Emergency Department, which anchors thethree-story Critical Care Center, opened just intime to meet growing patient demand.emergency departments has decreased byapproximately 14 percent from 1993to 2003.This winter, all Stanislaus County acutecarehospitals and their emergency roomswere at capacity that resulted in facilitiesdiverting ambulances and delayingelective surgeries. Sigsbury stated,“During this surge of very sick patients andthe challenges of opening a new CriticalCare Center and Emergency Departmentat <strong>Emanuel</strong>, the community was fortunatethat we had the new capacity to treateveryday, 30 to 50 additional patients.We know that our families and patientshad long waits, but the goal of ourphysicians, staff and volunteers is alwaysto provide the very best care.”“It’s rampant all up and down the valley,”said Sigsbury about the hike in ER visits.“We opened this facility just in time.”