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Gingrey presents honor to Redmond oncology nurse Lisa Dempsey

(Media release) U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, M.D., came to Redmond Regional Medical Center on Monday to present Lisa Dempsey, RN, with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition in honor of her commitment and dedication to nursing and her extraordinary work with cancer patients.  Dempsey, who has worked in Redmond's oncology unit for more than 20 years, accepted the award with tears in her eyes and was deeply moved from receiving this honor.

Dempsey joined the Redmond team in October 1986.  She has been serving as an Oncology registered nurse since September 1987. Dempsey is the Director of Camp Bluebird, an Adult camp for cancer patients, sponsored by Redmond Regional Medical Center.  She is active in Breast Cancer Awareness, the “Surviving to Share” program, her units’ Team Leader in “Relay for Life”  as well as being involved in a monthly Cancer support group. 

Dempsey is often praised by patients and was even nominated by a former patient for the “Extraordinary Healers” award sponsored by Cure Magazine.  Vickie Robertson, one of Dempsey’s co-workers, says, “being an Oncology Nurse is more than a profession to Lisa.  It is a ministry.”

Pictured above, from left: Phil Gingery, M.D., Lisa Dempsey, RN, Jerry Dempsey (husband of Lisa), and Brenda Waltz, Redmond CEO

Now-Friday/Redmond to host 'Thanks Mom' donor program

(Media release) As an advocate for organ donation, Redmond Regional Medical Center is hosting a Thanks Mom Marrow Donor Drive on May 16 from noon – 5 p.m. in Classroom A in the lower level of the hospital.  Thanks Mom is a National Marrow Donor Program’s largest awareness campaign of the year.  This year’s campaign will take place May 5 through May 19 – the two weeks surrounding Mother’s Day.  What better way to say, “Thanks, Mom” for giving you life than sharing that gift with another.

At the drive, people can give patients in need of an unrelated marrow transplant a second chance at life by joining the NMDP Registry, making a financial contribution and/or spreading the word to others to get involved.

Joining the NMDP Registry is as easy as swabbing the inside of your cheek with a cotton swab. Every day, more than 6,000 patients search the NMDP Registry for a life-saving donor. Only three in 10 patients get the transplant that could save their lives. Seventy percent of patients will not find a match within their own family. Diverse donors are critical because patients have the best chance of finding a match within their own race.

Redmond encourages the community to come out and support this drive and patients around the world.  For more information visit www.marrow.org or call 1 (800) MARROW-2.

Floyd's Parmer makes Cambridge Who's Who Registry

(Media release) Keith Parmer, M.D., a Floyd Primary Care family medicine physician, has qualified for inclusion in the 2008-2009 edition of the Cambridge Who’s Who Registry of executives, professionals and entrepreneurs. It is a compilation of professional profiles highlighting individuals accomplishments, achievements, expertise, affiliations and education for networking and recognition purposes. Inclusion in the registry is an honor limited to individuals who have demonstrated leadership and achievement in their occupation. Dr. Parmer earned his Doctor of Medicine degree at Medical College of Georgia, Augusta. A Floyd employee for 15 years, he is board certified in family medicine.   

Harbin's Dr. John Kirkland elected to American Venous Forum

(Media release) Harbin Clinic is pleased to announce John Kirkland, M.D., Ph.D., Harbin Clinic Vascular Surgeon, has been elected as a member of the American Venous Forum.

The American Venous Forum provides an academic arena for physician interested in research, education and clinical investigation in the field of venous disease. The Forum membership includes more than 225 board-certified vascular surgeons who have an accomplished record of interest and contribution in the management of venous disease.

The mission of the American Venous Forum is to improve the care of patients with venous and lymphatic disorders by providing a forum dedicated to education and to the exchange of information concerning basic and clinical research pertaining to the venous and lymphatic systems.

Dr. Kirkland received his medical doctorate degree from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Ga. and also holds a Ph.D. in Cardiovascular Physiology from Emory Univesrity. He completed a residency in General Vascular Surgery at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Kirkland is board certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery and board certified in Vascular Surgery by the Vascular Surgery Board of the American Board of Surgery. He is currently the Harbin Clinic Department Chairman of the Cardiovascular Disease Division and Medical Director of the Harbin Clinic Vascular Lab and Vein Center.

In addition to being a member of the American Venous Forum, Dr. Kirkland is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons; a Fellow of the American Heart Association Stroke Council; a Fellow of the International Academy of Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostatis; is President of the Atlanta Vascular Society; a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery; the Southern Association of Vascular Surgery; the Georgia Surgical Society; and the F.A. Collier Surgical Society.

Redmond opens at Garden Lakes site

(Media release) Redmond Regional Medical Center announces the opening of Redmond Family Care at Garden Lakes.  The clinic’s official start is Thursday and will be located at 2016 Redmond Circle in Rome.  Dr. Seaborn T. Moss, M.D. has practiced at this location since 1988 will continue on as the Redmond Family Care Physician.  Dr. Moss, a native of Fort Valley, Ga., has worked as a physician for 26 years and has worked in healthcare for the past 37 years.  He began his healthcare career as a pharmacist and then went on to pursue his degree in medicine. He received his medical degree from Medical College of Georgia and did his residency with the Floyd Family Practice Residency Program. His specialty is in Family Medicine and is American Board Certified. Dr. Moss is a member of Freemasonry and the Georgia Academy of American Physicians of America.  Dr. Moss has one son, one daughter-in-law, and one grandson. He and his wife, Karen, reside in Rome.

Gould named FMC's Good Samaritan Volunteer of the Year

(Media release) Daryl Jean Gould, a retired Floyd Medical Center employee and current Floyd Medical Center volunteer, was named the Good Samaritan Volunteer of the Year today.

One week after retiring from her job in Floyd’s Education and Organizational Development Department, Mrs. Gould was back in the office as a volunteer, assisting with CPR education and reading to children in the Stephen D. Smith Pediatric Center. She is not only a great volunteer with her professionalism, calm spirit and Southern grace, but a wonderful mentor and friend, said Sherry Payne, one of her nominators. She is a role model for co-workers and volunteers alike, said another of her nominators, Susan Lavigne.

A career nurse and educator, Mrs. Gould holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from Emory University. In addition to her volunteer work at Floyd, she has served as a preceptor for nursing students at Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Ala.; University of West Georgia, Carrollton; and Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw.

She also has volunteered her time with Three Rivers Community Choir, the National Youth Sports Program, Kiki's Kids Camp, Multiple Sclerosis Society; Girl Scouts of America, First United Methodist Church and Daughters of the American Revolution.

Mrs. Gould lives in Rome with her husband, Mervin.

The Good Samaritan Volunteer of the Year Award honors an individual who has gone beyond expectations in his or her respective field of volunteer service.  It is awarded each year in observance of National Volunteer Appreciation Week.

Redmond Regional pledges $125,000 toward Highlands' nursing program

(Media release) Georgia Highlands College announces that Redmond Regional Medical Center has pledged $25,000 a year for five years to GHC’s nursing program.  The donation amounts to $125,000 by 2013. 

The college is looking to outside sources to fund its program fully because the state provides less than half of its annual operating costs, and several funding sources from previous years have dried up.  At the same time, there is increasing demand for license-eligible nursing graduates.  GHC has increased its program in the last two years to meet the demand by obtaining grant money from several time-limited sources.  However, to support the increase in students the program costs have also increased, most notably from additional, required faculty positions. There are strict regulations regarding student/teacher ratios in both classroom and clinical settings.

Most of the contributions from health care organizations will be applied to the faculty positions necessary to maintain the size of the program.  GHC faces certain challenges when recruiting nursing instructors.  Traditionally, teaching professionals make significantly less than their counterparts in clinical and research organizations. Additionally, college-level faculty must hold master’s degrees.  Plus, these instructors must have knowledge and experience in the various specialties covered by the program, including medical-surgical nursing, mental health, obstetrics and pediatrics.  Georgia Highlands currently has 21 nursing faculty on staff but only 12 of them are funded by the University System of Georgia.  That’s why financial commitments like Redmond’s are so important. 

Making sure there are more nursing graduates in the market also benefits local health care facilities, which are critically short of qualified, licensed nurses.  Brenda M. Waltz, chief executive officer at Redmond, said, “Investing in future nurses is one of the most valuable things we can do to pave the way for continued excellence in health care.  Redmond is excited to be able to support the nursing students at Georgia Highlands as they train for a career that is so important to our community.”

Every year Georgia Highlands fields three applicants for each one they accept to the program.  The college has expanded the number accepted by adding a January student cohort in Rome and an extension program at Acworth.  When the GHC site at North Metro Technical College closes this summer, that group will continue in Marietta at the college’s site on the campus of Southern Polytechnic State University. 

Dr. Randy Pierce, president of Georgia Highlands, remains positive about making up the difference between USG funds and the program’s operating costs.  “Our health care partners have always been extremely generous with us, both in time and money,” he said.  “We believe ours is the top program in the area, so we feel confident we can continue to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship with these local providers who need our graduates.”

Owens new EMS director for Floyd Medical Center

(In part from a media release) M.L. “Bud” Owens, EMT-I, a longtime, highly regarded Emergency Medical Services professional, has been named Director of Emergency Medical Services at Floyd Medical Center  He comes to Floyd from Gordon Hospital, where he has served as Administrative Director of Emergency Services and Customer Relations for the past 14 years.

During his tenure at Gordon Hospital, Owens was named Georgia State EMS Director of the Year in 2004 and Region One EMS Director of the Year eight times, most recently in 2008. Under his leadership the Gordon Hospital EMS was named Georgia EMS Service of the Year and Region One EMS Service of the Year in 2001. (Archive)

“We are delighted to have a man of Bud’s caliber and dedication join the Floyd family,” said Dan Sweitzer, Floyd vice president. “Bud is a leader who has demonstrated his commitment to quality and community service. There is no better candidate to lead Floyd’s Emergency Medical Services Department.”

Owens replaces David Young who was replaced following turmoil within the department in January. James Coughlin had served as interim EMS director while a search continued for a permanent chief.

Floyd EMS operates five 24-hour emergency vehicles and three non-emergency transport vehicles from five stations throughout Floyd County. The service’s 22 paramedics and 17 emergency medical technicians respond to over 11,000 calls annually and have response times that are below the national average and among the best in Georgia.

Owens earned his emergency medical technician-intermediate certification at Dalton School of Health Occupations. In addition, he is a certified emergency manager by the Federal Emergency Management Institute, and he completed advanced emergency training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. Owens studied business administration at Dalton College, earned designation as a healthcare customer relations training specialist from the Disney Institute and completed biblical studies at Liberty University.

His list of community activities illustrates a life dedicated to public service. Owens is the current chairman of Leadership Calhoun-Gordon County. He is a former chairman and secretary-treasurer of the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce and former campaign chairman for the Coosa Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross.

He remains active as chairman of the Region One EMS Council, president-elect of the Georgia Association of Agricultural Fairs, Vice President of the Northwest Georgia Regional Fair, Chairman of the Region One Emergency Services Coordinating Council, a member of the Gordon County Development Authority, the Georgia Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee and the National Highway Transportation Administration’s EMS Advisory Board.

Owens is a member of the Georgia EMS Directors Association, the Emergency Management Association of Georgia and the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians. He sponsors Cub Scout Pack 153 and Boy Scout Explorer Post 55 and serves on the Healthcare Advisory Board of Coosa Valley Technical College.

He and his wife, the former Vicki McGill, have three children and one grandchild. They live in Gordon County and attend Trinity Baptist Church, where Owens serves as Minister of Music and Worship.

Floyd's Braden earns bariatric nurse certification

(Media release) Amy Braden, RN, CBN has earned her Bariatric Nurse Certification.  Certified Bariatric Nurses have demonstrated competence in all technical areas of bariatric nursing. The certification ensures these nurses follow the standards established by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. As Floyd's Bariatric Coordinator, Braden’s responsibilities include coordinating care of the bariatric surgery patient from their pre-operative visit until discharge. She also facilitates support group meetings for bariatric surgery patients and serves as an ongoing resource for them. Braden is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the National Association of Bariatric Nurses. She and her family live in Calhoun. They attend Cedar Creek Baptist Church in Adairsville. 

Advance Rehab football combine set for Saturday; expects record draw

(Media release) Advance Rehabilitation’s annual football combine competition for high school athletes is set for Saturday at Darlington School from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. More than 35 high schools from Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama have been invited.

“We are expecting a record turnout this year, with the top area athletes in attendance,” said Rick Nelson, director of sports medicine at Advance Rehabilitation. “This marks our eighth year hosting this event and we have actually expanded to another state, with a team from North Carolina attending this Saturday.”

The athletes will be tested in numerous areas including: 40-yard dash (electronic), 10-yard dash (electronic), 185-pound bench press max repetition, standing long jump, pro agility, four square, seated shot-put and vertical jump.

Trophies will be awarded to the first through third place teams, top overall individual and top individuals for each event. A number of college scouts have been invited to attend this year’s event.

Advance Rehabilitation is a physical therapy practice specializing in orthopedic, back pain/injuries and sports medicine. Advance Rehabilitation has grown to16 clinics through out the southeast and has provided compassionate physical therapy for 10 years.

Advance continues to rank in the 99th percentile for patient satisfaction through Press Ganey. Advance Rehabilitation is a proud supporter of local private and public schools and donates 10% of its profits back to community programs. The Sports Medicine program provides coverage at no cost to 11 area high schools and colleges.