Health Headlines

Redmond Regional, Polk Medical honored by Ga. Hospital Association

(Media release) Polk Medical Center of Cedartown and Redmond Regional Medical Center of Rome have been named to the Georgia Hospital Association’s Partnership for Health and Accountability Quality Honor Roll.

Polk Medical and Redmond Regional are two of only 14 hospitals in Georgia to be placed in the chairman’s category, the highest on the list.  The honor roll is based on clinical data provided by the federal Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS), which administers the nation’s Medicare and Medicaid programs. The data was collected from October 2008 – September 2009.

“This is a great accomplishment for Polk Medical and Redmond Regional,” said Joseph Parker, president of GHA. “This recognition further underscores the commitment of the Polk Medical and Redmond Regional staff to ensuring that every patient receives the best, most effective health care possible.”  

All acute care hospitals are required to submit care data to CMS. This data details how well a hospital’s caregivers adhere to a list of eight Appropriate Care Measures (ACM), which are the clinical processes of care that are known to be the most effective methods of treatment for patients who have suffered heart attacks, heart failure or pneumonia. The ACM is a composite measure that determines whether or not a patient received the right care at the right time.  

For instance, a recommended treatment to help prevent a heart attack is to take aspirin either before or upon arrival at the hospital, as well as at discharge. A suggested treatment for pneumonia is to administer an antibiotic within four hours of a patient’s arrival. A hospital’s adherence to these recommended clinical practices usually leads to better outcomes.  

“It is our mission to ensure that each patient receives the right care at the right time and this recognition validates this,” said Brenda Waltz, chief executive officer of Redmond Regional.  

Kim Scoggins, Polk Administrator, said of the award, “This honor is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our staff who are constantly working to make excellent care even better.”  

Heyman HospiceCare hosts cancer, end-of-life care conference March 24

(Media release) Learning that you or a loved one has incurable cancer can bring a wave of emotion and questions that many of us are not prepared to address. On Wednesday, March 24, Heyman HospiceCare at Floyd will host a seminar that speaks to care options related to cancer diagnoses as well as loss and grief reactions for patients, families and professional care-givers.

“Cancer and End-of-Life Care” is a national teleconference developed by the Hospice Foundation of America. The Floyd event will be held at Georgia Northwestern Technical College on Cedar Avenue in Rome. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. The conference begins at 1:30 p.m. and is scheduled to conclude at 4:30 p.m.

It is an opportunity for health care professionals, volunteers, patients and family members to share and exchange ideas and to hear from recognized experts in the continually evolving field of hospice care.

The event is free. Health care professionals who pay a $25 processing fee can receive continuing education credit for attending.

For more than a decade, this annual educational program has been instrumental in educating health care professionals and families on issues affecting end-of-life care. This is the HFA’s 17th annual national bereavement teleconference. Experts will examine psychosocial aspects of cancer, pain management, and ethical issues related to the disease.

Moderator Frank Sesno, Director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University, will lead the panel of noted authorities that includes: Yvette Colón, director of Education & Support at American Pain Foundation; Malene Davis, president & CEO at Capital Hospice; Kenneth J. Doka, professor of gerontology at The College of New Rochelle; Richard Payne, director, Institute on Care at the End of Life, Duke University; Sherry R. Schachter, director Bereavement Services at Calvary Hospital/Hospice; and Brad Stuart, medical director at Sutter VNA & Hospice.

In addition, a panel of Heyman HospiceCare and community representatives knowledgeable about cancer care in our region will be in attendance to help address questions and to provide a local perspective on these very important issues.
To register, contact Lori O’Malia at 706.509.3204 or by email at lomalia@floyd.org.

Flacko named Floyd's director of retail services

(News release) Joseph A. Palko Jr. has been named director of Retail Services at Floyd. Palko will provide consultative support for existing retail venues, develop plans for the expansion of retail services and coordinate a range of ventures as planned and budgeted. Prior to joining Floyd, Palko served as the vice president of sales, stores and operations at Goody’s LLC in Knoxville, Tenn. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Saint Francis University, Loretto, Pa. In addition, he has completed training in advanced leadership, management development and situational leadership. A native of Altoona, Penn., Palko resides in Rome.

Steele joins Redmond Outpatient Rehab

(Media release) Christopher Steele, PT, DPT has joined Redmond Outpatient Rehab in Rome and Trion as a Physical Therapist.  As a PT, he will assist patients in meeting their health goals and work to enable them to return to everyday activities.  Steele will be treating musculoskeletal and neurological injuries, including neck pain, back pain, strokes and muscle strains.  He specializes in neck and back pain.   Steele earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology at Shorter College in 2006 and went on to earn his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Georgia State University in 2009.  He is a member of the Physical Therapy Association of Georgia and the American Physical Therapy Association.   Steele has two dogs and lives in his hometown of Armuchee.

Weed named director of planning at Floyd Medical Center

(Media release) Stephen Weed has been named director of Planning at Floyd Medical Center. In this role, Weed will manage the gathering and analyzing of information for the organization’s strategic planning initiatives. He will be responsible for research, planning and evaluation of new and/or existing Floyd programs and services. In addition, he will ensure the availability of timely and accurate information about the operations of Floyd Medical Center and its affiliates to internal departments and external organizations. Weed earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Georgia Southern University, Statesboro. Prior to joining Floyd, he served as the director of purchasing with Peach State Labs Inc. He and his wife, Sherry, reside in Rome.

March for Babies set for April 24; Jaylon Phillips is 2010 ambassador

(Media release) The 2010 March of Dimes’ annual March for Babies is under way. It is the nation’s oldest walk fundraiser honoring babies born healthy and those who need help to survive and thrive.

This year’s Floyd County Special Ambassador is Jaylon Phillips. Jaylon is the son of Jerome and Dee Dee Phillips of Rome. At the kickoff breakfast at the Rome Civic Center Feb. 23, Dee Dee shared her story about the joys of pregnancy and the anticipation of starting a family. However, her seemingly perfect pregnancy took a drastic turn when at 24 weeks, she had to deliver Jaylon in order to save her own life. He spent 4 months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before being released. Today, Jaylon is a vibrant 4 year-old boy with a smile that warms the hearts of those who meet him. The Phillips’ are dedicated to making sure every parent has the same happy ending.

In the photo, the Phillips are joined by Randy Quick, right, the Floyd County March for Babies Chair. Randy, who is the General Manager of Rome Radio Partners, knows how important the March of Dimes mission is. As a father of a pre-mature daughter himself, he took on the role to raise awareness and important funding to provide for babies who are born premature or with birth defects.

The March for Babies Event will be held on April 24 at Berry College. Registration begins at 9 a.m.with the 4-mile walk kicking off at 10 a.m. Participation in March for Babies will provide a memorable and rewarding day for the whole family including lunch, music, costume characters, face painting and more. To register for this event in your community, visit www.marchforbabies.org.

Funds raised by March for Babies in Georgia help support prenatal wellness programs, research grants, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) family support programs and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies.

The most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today is premature birth. It affects more than half a million babies each year, with the number growing every day. This past November, the March of Dimes issued a Report Card on Premature Birth, giving the nation a “D” and Georgia the grade of “F.” The March of Dimes is committed to reducing this toll by funding research to find the answers to problems that continue to threaten the health of babies.

The March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter Kmart, as well as Farmers Insurance Group, CIGNA, Continental Airlines, Famous Footwear, FedEx, First Response, and Mission Pharmacal. Local sponsors include Macys, Publix, Georgia Power, Temple Inland, and Harbin Clinic.

To join in, visit marchforbabies.org, or call Michele Beal at (678) 564-5231, to sign up as an individual; to start a corporate, family/friends team; or to donate to help babies be born healthy.

How healthy is Northwest Georgia? About mid-range

A study by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute offers a sobering look at health trends among 157 of Georgia's 159 counties, including Northwest Georgia.

>The county-by-county snapshots have some eye-opening categories: premature death (people dying before age 75); binge drinking; liquor store density; homicide rate; chlamydia rate; adult obesity; and smoking.

>The healthiest counties mostly are in Northeast Georgia: Cobb,  Forsyth, Gwinnett and Cherokee.

>Most of the lower scores are in South Georgia. Quitman was the lowest. The lower the county's number, the healthier the county is believed to be. Counties with white or lighter green tints are healthier than those with darker shades of green.

>The reviews for Northwest Georgia: Click each county to review snapshot data.

-Bartow County: 51 / Gordon County: 62 / Floyd County: 63

-Chattooga County: 118 / Polk County: 130.

Boss: Prevention is key to tackling many of community's health concerns

The following comments on the Population Health Institute study are from Logan Boss, Public Information Officer for Northwest Georgia Public Health:

The Georgia county-specific health rankings -- which we suggest represent snapshots of health, not high-resolution photographs -- clearly show us that where we live matters to our health.  Where we live, learn, work and play influences how healthy we are and how long we live.   

The health of a community depends on many different factors, ranging from individual-health behaviors, education and jobs to quality of health care to the environment.  Clearly, factors outside medical care influence health.

All of us, from public health leaders to business, have a role to play in raising awareness about the multiple influences on health.  We hope these rankings will generate community discussion about how healthy each Northwest Georgia county is and what can be done to improve its health, rather than focusing on whether or not its ranking is "correct." 

Why are these rankings important?  They show there are big differences in health across counties within Georgia  --  some places are much healthier than others.  The rankings also remind us that health is everyone's responsibility.   Public health, health care, business, education and government must recognize all of the factors that influence the health of our communities so we can work together to create programs and policies that that will help people lead healthier lives.   

It's easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle when you live in a healthy community.  The least healthy communities are more likely to have higher rates of smoking, poorer quality health care, fewer opportunities for physical activity, more high-school dropouts and higher rates of unemployment and poverty. 

These rankings also should remind us that good health is critical to a vibrant economy.  A county's health affects its economic competitiveness.  When most people in a community are healthy, there are lower health costs, fewer sick days and increased productivity, all of which are critical to economic growth. 

What can counties do with this information?  We hope it will help community leaders identify factors that are making residents sick or unhealthy and mobilize them to develop solutions for removing barriers to health. 

Prevention is one area in which we can do better.  Nationally, two-thirds of the amount we spend on health care is attributable to preventable diseases.  Yet we invest less than 5 percent of the health care dollar on efforts to prevent illness or help people lead healthier lives. 

Public health regards the community as its patient and focuses on the health of entire populations while they are still healthy rather than on individual patients after they become ill. 

This proactive, preventive approach is the single most important distinction between public health and clinical medicine.  We mostly work to keep you from getting ill. 

We hope this report will help community leaders understand the importance of public health to the overall health of their community so they will continue to fund and help develop public health programs to improve how healthy we are and how healthy we can be.  

Harbin OB/GYNs Jordan, Collins retire; delivered 12,000 babies

(Media release) After practicing medicine in Rome for more than 30 years each and delivering approximately 12,000 babies between the two, Harbin Clinic Obstetricians-Gynecologists, Dr. W. Pope Jordan, III and Dr. John T. Collins recently retired from their practices.

Dr. Jordan joined Norton Women’s Clinic on January 1, 1979 before it had become a part of the Harbin Clinic. It was in 1996 that the Norton’s group came on board with Harbin Clinic. Dr. Jordan’s practice was at the Harbin Clinic Norton Women's Clinic, 330 Turner McCall Blvd., Rome. During his 31 years of practice, Dr. Jordan delivered approximately 5,000 babies. He reminisced that he never grew tired of the miracle of birth during his entire career.

Dr. Jordan received his Medical Doctorate degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. He was board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology. His medical associations include: the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology, the South Atlantic Association of Obstetrics & Gynecology and the South Western Gynecological Assembly.

Dr. Collins began his practice in Rome when he joined Rome Ob/GYN in June 1975, some 35 years ago.  Rome Ob/GYN later joined Harbin Clinic in 1998.  During Dr. Collins’ years of practice, he delivered more than 7,000 babies.  Dr. Collins still feels like every birth is a miracle and that he is just, “God’s mailman for babies,” he reflected.

Dr. Collins received his Medical Doctorate degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. He was board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology. His medical associations include: the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology and the American Medical Association.

Harbin's Dr. Dillmon appointed to American Society of Clinical Oncology's Leadership Development Program:  (Media release) The American Society of Clinical Oncology recently appointed Harbin Clinic Medical Oncologist, Dr. Melissa S. Dillmon to their Leadership Development Program. This prestigious appointment, only open to ten oncologists annually, offers participants training in valuable leadership skills and exposure to the roles and mission of ASCO. The Society also uses the Leadership Program to prepare oncologists for shaping the development of the future of cancer care.

Dr. Dillmon said, “I am excited to be a part of this program. Last year was the inaugural year and those chosen for the program were all part of prestigious academic institutions. I am honored to represent Harbin Clinic and community oncologists in Georgia.

ASCO is the world’s leading professional organization representing physicians who treat people with cancer. ASCO’s members set the standard for patient care worldwide and lead the way in carrying out clinical research aimed at improving the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. ASCO's efforts are also directed toward advocating for policies that provide access to high-quality care for all patients with cancer and at supporting the increased funding for clinical and translational research.

ASCO is a non-profit organization founded in 1964 with the overarching goals of improving cancer care and prevention. More than 27,000 oncology practitioners belong to ASCO, representing all oncology disciplines and subspecialties. Members include physicians and health-care professionals in all levels of the practice of oncology.

This program is a one-year program that requires a time commitment for travel and training.

Through the Leadership Development Program, Dr. Dillmon will begin:
-Networking with ASCO leadership at the 2010 Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL
Gaining proficiency with key ASCO research initiatives
-Participating in leadership boot camp at ASCO Headquarters
-Receiving first-hand advocacy experience on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC

Dr. Dillmon’s office is at Harbin Clinic Medical Oncology, 318 W. Fifth St., Rome.