Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Greenville, SC Permit No. 374
Spring 2018
New beginnings Orthopaedic surgery gives painter a fresh start
800 North Fant Street • Anderson, SC 29621 www.anmedhealth.org
Year in Review A look back at 2017
Mentors inspire future health care careers Aimee Sharp, ICU nurse manager, speaks with members of her nursing team during multidisciplinary rounding.
A Beacon of Excellence The intensive care unit at AnMed Health has earned a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). The award honors individual nursing teams that distinguish themselves by improving patient care, demonstrating outstanding patient satisfaction, and cultivating a positive and supportive work environment. We’re proud to be a beacon of excellence in caring for our patients and community.
FROM THE CEO
Save Your Spot. Online Reservations for Urgent Care.
CONTENTS
4 Orthopaedic surgery allows artist to create again 6 A look back at 2017 8 Extraordinary women mentor high schoolers interested in health careers 10 Ask the Doc: Spring Allergies 11 Heart valve replacement without surgery 12 Teen stroke survivor makes miraculous recovery 13 Local radio host inspires others to manage diabetes
Our urgent care locations in Anderson and Clemson now allow you to save your spot online. Wait where you want, get in fast and get out better. Visit www.MyCareConnectSpot.com to make reservations online.
Remembering Kirk Oglesby: Mentor, friend and supporter
14 News Briefs 15 Visions: Foundation News Family medicine physician Dr. Diana Clemow was eager to offer advice and encouragement to high school senior and aspiring physical therapist Avonte Dawson as part of the Lead Higher mentorship program. ON THE COVER:
Inside
ANMED HEALTH Inside AnMed Health is published quarterly for AnMed Health staff, friends and the community. CONTACT
Marketing Department 864.512.3703 MISSION To passionately blend the art of caring with the science of medicine to optimize the health of our patients, staff and community. VISION To be recognized and celebrated as the gold standard for healthcare quality and community health improvement.
800 North Fant Street • Anderson, SC 29621 864.512.1000 • www.anmedhealth.org
EARLIER THIS SPRING, the AnMed Health family and greater Anderson community
lost a great leader, humanitarian and community advocate. Kirk Oglesby was the longest-serving president and CEO of AnMed Health, and I was fortunate enough to work with and for him for many of those years. When I first arrived in Anderson in 1981, one of the things I immediately noticed was his style of quiet active listening and engaging of people in the room. I was always impressed with his ability to draw out the ideas of the people in the room before presenting his own thoughts. He often even forced participation in a discussion if he felt someone was holding back their idea. Conviction was another of his leadership skills that I greatly admired. Once he reached a position on an issue, it was always very clear where he stood. If he was convinced that there was a “right” course of action, his commitment to the issue or cause was total, direct and focused. Because of his reputation, intellect and conviction, he could be daunting to folks like me who were just starting their career. I distinctly remember the first meeting where I worked up the courage to take an opposing point on an issue that was being discussed. After my comments, he paused just long enough for me to decide that my career was over, and then proceeded to ask several insightful questions about my position and then thank me for my input. From that day forward, I was always comfortable with engaging in conversations when I thought I had an opinion that held merit. Mr. Oglesby was a man of enormous faith. He didn’t wear it on his sleeve, yet it was articulated in the way he interacted with people and prioritized what was important to him and the organization. When I reflect on my good fortune to have observed Mr. Oglesby’s leadership and enjoyed his mentorship, I think about “integrity.” Whether it was his personal commitment to his spouse, Bobbie, his family, his church or any of the many organizations that benefitted from his leadership, everyone that was exposed to him knew that he was a person of integrity in every sense of the word. I know of no one, other than Mr. Oglesby, to have held the top position at all three of the country’s healthcare associations: the American College of Healthcare Executives, 1986; American Hospital Association, 1992; and Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, 1993. Kirk Oglesby was like the old E.F. Hutton commercial. Everyone stopped and listened when he spoke. He was a man of few words, but what he said was always insightful. He listened more than he spoke – an approach people would do well to emulate, and a central component of his legacy of leadership and service.
Bill Manson Inside ANMED HEALTH 3
Orthopaedic surgery gives painter a fresh start
Dr. Donald Griffith commemorated his recovery from a serious fall by creating a special art piece. Following orthopaedic surgery and physical therapy, he is rediscovering his passion for painting and creating.
DR. DONALD GRIFFITH was washing
windows, when he fell 14 feet to the ground completely smashing both his ankle and wrist. Rushed to the emergency room, Donald was introduced to Dr. Darius Divina, an orthoapedic surgeon with AnMed Health, who happened to be on call that evening. According to Dr. Divina, “My immediate concern was determining whether Dr. Griffith had any damage to his spine or nervous system, after falling from such a great height.” Luckily a careful medical examination and MRI showed no signs of these injuries. However, the fall had significantly hurt the patient’s ankle and wrist. Dr. Griffith was quickly taken into emergency surgery – to surgically repair both the ankle and the next day to treat his wrist. Dr. Griffith, a retired engineering professor who taught at both Clemson and the University of South Carolina, says his first degree was in the arts. As a young man, he worked his way through college painting and in retirement had found his passion for creating again. However, after his fall, and unable to move his fingers, Dr. Griffith worried he would never paint again. He believes without the expertise and talent of Dr. Divina that may have well been the case. Griffith notes, “Dr. Divina has incredible surgical expertise and professionalism, but what surprised me was how genuine and caring he was. Like me, he is a teacher and took time to explain everything in detail.” Dr. Divina and the physical therapy team at AnMed Health encouraged Griffith to challenge himself during postsurgical physicial therapy. Griffith closely
Like Griffith himself, the sculpture symbolizes a fresh start and new beginning. 4 Inside ANMED HEALTH
followed his rehabilitation exercise and recovery program, and his hard work paid off. He fully regained the use of both his hand and ankle. To celebrate his recovery, Griffith decided to work on a special art piece. He crafted and painted a metal sculpture of a Phoenix. Like Griffith himself, the sculpture symbolizes a fresh start and new beginning. Dr. Griffith jokes that Dr. Divina is never allowed to retire. He trusts the
surgeon so much that he has also sought treatment from him for both hip and knee surgery. Dr. Griffith hopes to avoid any additional emergencies in the future and notes that his wife is doing her best to keep him away from window cleaning and other activities that involve heights. “I guess I have older body parts than I did in college and need to be a little more careful. I’m a teacher that may have finally learned his lesson.”
Community Orthopaedics
Dr. Darius Divina
Darius Divina, D.O. is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon and graduate of Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He went on to complete his residency training at Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital, where he served as chief orthopaedic resident. Dr. Divina practices general orthopaedic surgery with an emphasis on osteoarthritis, total joint replacement and trauma. He practices at AnMed Health Community Orthopaedics. To learn more, visit communityortho.anmedhealth.org.
Inside ANMED HEALTH 5
2017 Year in Review
The Radiologic Technology Program celebrated 70 years at AnMed Health:
AnMed Health is a 700-bed five-hospital system founded in 1908, anchored by AnMed Health Medical Center.
• 100% pass rate on the ARRT national registry exam
AnMed Health Medical Center, AnMed Health Women’s and Children’s Hospital, AnMed Health Rehabilitation Hospital, AnMed Health Cannon, Elbert Memorial Hospital
Languages Services provided medical interpretation during approximately
15,000
encounters in 2017. The top six languages, in order, were
Spanish, Russian, American Sign Language, Korean and Chinese.
100%
of family medicine practices with Primary Care Medical Home status renewed at a Level 3 -the highest designation awarded by the National Committee of Quality Assurance
3,690
The cost of charity care in 2017 was more than
$14 million. Total community benefit and bad debt in that same period was more than
$128 million.
annual wellness visits were made by Medicare patients to AnMed Health network physicians
• 100% job placement for our graduates • 100% completion rate • Our faculty and students presented career talks to 399 elementary, middle and high school students in our community
1,500 learners
We have on our campus for shadowing / volunteer experiences each year in multiple disciplines, including nursing, medicine, allied health and nutrition
8,011
people registered to donate blood products through AnMed Health Blood Center.
6,482
A total of blood products were collected in 2017.
111,039 patients are learning the convenience of having a MyChart account.
The Medical Education program has:
42,960 average number of patient visits per month in the AnMed Health Physician Network
12
AnMed Health performed its first dozen TAVR procedures in the final four months of 2017.
6 Inside ANMED HEALTH
87.3%
The number of patients giving their experience at an AnMed Health physician network office the top scores
6
number of primary care physicians added to the network in August 2017
834 RNs 59 LPNs
and
took care of patients 24 hours a day for 365 days.
17,433 number of visits seen by our
34 family medicine residents 2 sports medicine fellows
10,489
6 occupational medicine off-site clinics
visits to Evolve, AnMed Health’s Therapy & Sports Performance clinic, in 2017
24 medical students Inside ANMED HEALTH 7
AnMed Health partners with high school students
Dr. Diana Clemow hopes to inspire the next generation of health care professionals by serving as a mentor through the Lead Higher program.
AVONTE DAWSON is an energetic,
“After volunteering in the program that summer, I knew that becoming a physical therapist was what I wanted to do.”
8 Inside ANMED HEALTH
17-year-old senior at Pendleton High School with big plans for her future. Instead of taking it easy her senior year, Dawson signed up for Advanced Placement (AP) and dual-enrollment classes (where she gets both high school and college credits) in preparation for a future career in the health care field. It all began during the summer of 2016 when Dawson was chosen to participate in the Youth Volunteer Program at AnMed Health. After spending two weeks volunteering with physical and occupational therapists, she was hooked. “After volunteering in the program that summer, I knew that becoming a physical therapist was what I wanted to do,” said Dawson. “I have watched my mother work full-time, continue her education beyond her college degree and raise a family. She is my role model, and I want to be just like her.” The following year, Dawson gained another role model, thanks to a partnership between AnMed Health and Anderson District 4. Through a nation-wide initiative called Lead Higher, Dawson became one of 10 promising young women matched up with an AnMed Health mentor. “Pendleton High School partnered with Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) and established the Lead Higher program to make sure that the most underrepresented students in our school have the access and encouragement needed to take the advanced classes we offer,” said Theresa Hamm, Ph.D. instructional coach at Pendleton High School. “Ten women who were previously honored in AnMed Health’s Extraordinary Women in Healthcare program were paired up as the mentors for 10 young women from our high school in the Lead Higher program.” Since 2006, AnMed Health’s Extraordinary Women in Healthcare Reception and Symposium has recognized and honored women who have made outstanding contributions to health care. In 2017, the focus was shifted to
mentoring extraordinary young women in the community. Ten previous honorees were invited to partner with these girls and give them a chance to show them what their future could look like if they set goals and strived to reach them. Dr. Diana Clemow, a family physician with AnMed Health Family Medicine, was in the very first group of Extraordinary Women in Healthcare and was paired with Dawson as her mentor. Having worked hard to achieve her own goals, Clemow was happy to help encourage a young woman to run after her dreams. “I was told by my guidance counselor that I probably would not get accepted into medical school and I should come up with a backup plan,” said Dr. Clemow. “But I was determined to meet my goal of getting in, and I did.” Mentors were asked to support their mentee by attending a luncheon with them, getting together for an interview, taking part in the annual Extraordinary Women in Healthcare gala and completing a survey. Clemow went far above and beyond these basic requirements, developing a lasting personal relationship with Dawson that she expects will continue to grow. “Avonte and I have maintained our
relationship after working with each other last year,” said Dr. Clemow. “We have gone out for yogurt, see each other at Chick-fil-A every Monday night and have dinner at my house together with my family. My little girls love seeing her, and I do too. I look forward to watching Avonte go off to college and work towards a career in the medical field.” This is exactly what Juana Slade, chief diversity officer and director of Diversity and Language Services, was hoping for. “Our goal was to get former Extraordinary Women honorees and these young women from Pendleton High School together so the younger women could see what their future may look like if they continued their education in science or medicine.” said Slade. “This furthers our goal of developing capable new leaders in the health care field and offers students support and advice from women who have already attained degrees and established themselves in successful careers. It is a win-win situation for everyone involved.” Lead Higher participants have already been chosen for the 2018-2019 school year and will again be matched with former Extraordinary Women in Healthcare honorees. Inside ANMED HEALTH 9
ASK THE DOC
NEWS BRIEFS
Surviving Spring Allergies 101
AnMed Health now offers valve replacement without surgery
Spring is in the air, and while the warmer weather and longer days are a welcome change for most, allergy sufferers everywhere dread the irritating symptoms that come along with the season. For many, these symptoms can last well into the year, making it difficult to enjoy favorite activities like going out on the lake, working in the garden, or watching a baseball game. However, according to AnMed Health allergy experts, these symptoms can be effectively managed for most people. So if your eyes water and your nose gets a tickle just thinking about springtime, read on to learn what you need to know to survive this year’s allergy season.
What causes seasonal allergies? Noting the time of year when your symptoms are at their worst can be an important clue in determining what causes them. Dr. Justin Way, a boardcertified otolaryngologist with AnMed Health Medicus ENT, explains that tree pollen is most often the culprit of springtime allergies. In summer months, grass becomes the most common cause of symptoms, while ragweed is prominent in the fall. When tiny particles of these allergens are inhaled, it sometimes triggers a histamine response – essentially, a warning to your immune system that a foreign, and potentially harmful, substance has entered the body. Typical symptoms include sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, and post-nasal drip. How can I manage my allergies? According to Dr. Way, there are three main ways to manage allergy symptoms. First, whenever possible, avoid the substance that triggers them. It sounds simple – and for people affected by some allergens (like pet dander) – it is. However, the effectiveness of this method depends on both your willingness and ability to alter your lifestyle and on having a pretty good idea of what’s triggering your allergy. For those who cannot avoid the allergens 10 Inside ANMED HEALTH
affecting them, medications and nasal sprays can often bring relief. However, if medications fail, Dr. Way suggests allergy testing to pinpoint the allergens most likely responsible for symptoms. Once identified, small doses of these allergens are actually given to patients in the form of allergy shots or drops taken underneath the tongue. “By exposing patients to small doses of the allergen that’s triggering symptoms, we help condition their immune systems to that allergen, which makes them less reactive over time,” says Way. What will happen if I just ignore my allergies? Besides diminishing quality of life, untreated allergies can have other unwanted effects such as chronic fatigue, lost work hours, recurring sinus infections, and chronic bronchitis. For asthma sufferers, it is especially important to manage allergies since they can exacerbate the condition. How early do allergies develop? Children often start having problems early in life with recurring ear and sinus infections. When symptoms become severe and unresponsive to medications, Dr. Way recommends allergy testing as early as age six.
Justin Way, M.D. is a native of Holly Hill, South Carolina and a graduate of Clemson University. Inspired by his father’s career as a family physician, Way studied medicine at MUSC and went on to complete his residency training at the University of Kentucky. He pursued otolaryngology because it offers a balance of both medicine and surgery, and Justin Way, M.D. allows him to work with a wide range of patients. As one of three specialists at AnMed Health Medicus ENT, Way offers comprehensive allergy testing, nasal and sinus surgery, and treatment for other complex conditions involving the head and neck such as thyroid disorders and neck masses.
AnMed Health has rolled out a new procedure over the last few months, giving some heart patients access to more treatment options. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) is a procedure that, for some heart patients in need of aortic valve replacement, provides an option that doesn’t require surgery. The first TAVR at AnMed Health Medical Center was performed in August. TAVR is a treatment for many patients who previously had no other options or were at high risk for conventional open heart surgery. With TAVR, physicians now can use a minimally-invasive approach that provides outcomes that are as good, or sometimes better, than surgical valve replacement. Up to 1.5 million people in the United States suffer from aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve, with an estimated 250,000 patients having severe aortic stenosis. Studies show that without an aortic valve replacement, more than 50 percent of patients with severe aortic stenosis will not survive more than an average of two years after the onset of symptoms. Although TAVR was originally for high-risk patients, it is now a promising treatment for Dr. Satish Surabhi other patients, according to Dr. Satish Surabhi, of AnMed Health Carolina Cardiology and medical director of the Cath Lab at AnMed Health Medical Center. “Over the last several years we have had studies that look at patients that are intermediate or medium-risk patients with aortic valve stenosis and we found that the transcatheter valve is as good as surgical valve replacement, and in fact may be safer,” Dr. Surabhi said. “It’s turned out to be a really great advance for these patients.” Future studies will explore TAVR as an option for low-risk patients, he said. Aortic stenosis often develops into
debilitating symptoms that can restrict normal day-to-day activities such as walking short distances or climbing stairs. Some patients may experience chest pain, fainting, lightheadedness and extreme fatigue. A surgeon makes TAVR work by entering the artery at the groin and replacing the damaged valve without removing it. The replacement valve is mounted on a stent and wedged into place. Once the new valve is expanded, it pushes the old valve leaflets out of the way and the tissue in the replacement valve takes over the job of
regulating blood flow. After treatment, patients typically see an immediate improvement in quality of life, and are able to resume light exercise after just one month. “You have a brand new working valve right then and there,” Surabhi said. “Most people go home within 24 to 48 hours and are back to their usual activities in about a week. It is an incredibly fascinating and fantastic development for patients not to undergo invasive and high-risk surgery and get their valves replaced this way.”
Diseased OPEN
Diseased CLOSED
Healthy OPEN
Transaortic Approach
Healthy CLOSED
Inside ANMED HEALTH 11
Jarrett McCurry is thankful to be back running the AV for his church following a brain hemorrhage and stroke that nearly cost him his life.
Jarrett McCurry’s teenage brain was pretty reliable. It led him to good grades and good decisions, mostly. It was curious and quick and promised to take him further in life: to college, for sure, and then beyond. But something went wrong one day at school. It started with a headache – a relentless sledgehammer to the same spot, over and over until officials at Anderson Christian School recognized a medical emergency on their hands. They called an ambulance … and his mother, who happens to be a nurse. He doesn’t remember what happened after that. The next event in his memory is waking up in a hospital room far from home, with everyone telling him that he was lucky to be alive. Jarrett didn’t feel lucky, not at first. His mother did, however. She was there when things were bleak. She was there in time to get in the ambulance with Jarrett. And she was there when he rolled into the AnMed Health Emergency Department. And she was there to see – from the perspective of a nurse and mother – when an ER nurse saw something alarming. Janet saw the nurse read the circumstances and sprint away for help. That’s when Dr. Jeffrey Hohn arrived. Dr. Hohn feared and suspected something dire: that Jarrett was in the throes of a stroke and far from a specialist accustomed to dealing with teen stroke victims. Miracles and medicine were in a cooperative spirit that day, however. Dr. Hohn sent Jarrett immediately for a CT scan while someone brought in neurosurgeon Dr. Aaron MacDonald, who entered the room while the CT scan was underway. “While Jarrett was being scanned, a brain vessel ruptured
12 Inside ANMED HEALTH
Ken Ruinard with Independent Mail
Teen stroke survivor makes miraculous recovery
and he suffered a severe brain bleed. The diagnosis was intracranial hemorrhage with subsequent stroke,” Janet said. “This is about as emergent as it can get.” The mother in her didn’t know enough. The nurse in her knew too much. “We were told that Dr. MacDonald handed his lunch to someone and said, ‘I am taking this child to surgery right now.’ As he walked out of CT, one of the ER nurses was a step ahead of him and had the OR on the telephone for Dr. MacDonald to give instruction to prepare for an emergent craniotomy procedure to relieve pressure on Jarrett’s brain. This was his only hope for life at this point.” Janet estimates the time from the Emergency Department door to the operating room to be about 40 minutes. His brain was in the hands of an accomplished surgeon, but one not accustomed to pediatric cases. However, MacDonald did know it was likely to be an anteriovenous malformation, which are usually present at birth. “I didn’t know whether removing it would sacrifice arteries that supplied critical deep structures necessary for survival,” he said. “There was no time to figure all this out. He was showing signs of brain stem compression by his dilated pupils. So we pushed on to surgery in Hail Mary-fashion to try to save his life. Fortunately, we were able to stop the heavy bleeding.” The surgery was successful but the patient needed to be in Charleston, under the care of a pediatric vascular neurosurgeon. So Jarrett was turned over to the neuro intensive care unit at AnMed Health, where the staff took care of him for the rest of the day as they prepared him for a helicopter flight to the Medical University of South Carolina. There was a hitch, however. MUSC was diverting patients as a hurricane moved in on the coast. The hospital accepted Jarrett, though, and the LifeFlight crew (now called MedTrans) undertook a harrowing flight toward the storm, and at low altitude to protect Jarrett’s brain. Once at MUSC, he underwent two more procedures to address the cause of the bleed. That was followed by five weeks of inpatient rehabilitation at the Levine Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlotte, N.C. Several weeks later, Janet and Greg McCurry walked into the AnMed Health Emergency Department again; this time Jarrett was walking with them as they said thank you to the staff and presented a large basket of edible goodies. “The AnMed Health teams all were nothing short of perfection,” Janet said. “Everything that needed to happen absolutely fell into place as it should, and the result was a perfect miracle.” As for Jarrett, he’s looking forward to moving on. He is back at school except when he’s in therapy, and he intends to restore his body to full capacity. “By the grace of God I’m still here. I just think of this as a speed bump, a minor barrier that I’ve got to overcome,” he said. “My ultimate goal is doing the things I did before this – going to school, helping people, community projects. I love to help people and that’s what I look forward to.”
After a close-call with diabetes, DJ Stevie Jones uses his voice to help others learn to manage the disease.
DJ vs. Diabetes Anderson DJ turns his bout with diabetes into an opportunity to help others
Stevie Jones has always considered himself a motivator, even when he dons his “Sir Jones” personality to host his weeknight R&B radio show on WLAS 95.3. Even during a recent health scare that turned a rare hospital visit into a 10-day stay, Jones formulated a plan to turn his Type 2 diabetes diagnosis into an opportunity to help others. Now his DJ booth is a command center. It’s not uncommon to hear “where my diabetics at?” on Jones’ show these days. It’s his call to arms. “My stay in the hospital reshaped my perspective,” Jones said. “I want to help others put this diabetes in a chokehold and make it tap out of our lives.” He’s full of energy when he talks about his experience at AnMed Health. When he says “chokehold,” Jones pantomimes throttling an invisible attacker. He re-enacts both sides of conversations he had with doctors and nurses. He jumps from his chair to act out the events that led him there. However, he was far from energetic when he arrived at AnMed Health’s emergency department in early October. During a celebration of his wife Lugenia’s birthday, he was
sluggish. The next morning, she said he was moving in slow motion. “It was like a vampire was draining his blood,” Lugenia said. “That’s why I wasn’t surprised when we found out he should have been in a diabetic coma.” When he arrived in the ER, Jones’ blood sugar levels were at 1,187 mg/ dl. People with diabetes shoot for a level of 100. His blood glucose test was just under 23, and normal is below 5.7. Dr. Kimberly King is an ER physician who saw Jones the night he arrived; she said the only thing more shocking than these numbers was Jones’ general attitude. “I’ve never seen numbers close to that, and he was cracking jokes; it was remarkable how well he was tolerating what his body was going through,” King said. “He was surprised when I told him he wasn’t going to make it to radio that night, but his jaw hit the floor when I explained how his numbers compared to normal.” Surgeries took care of the urinary tract issues caused by these prolonged levels, and AnMed Health’s diabetes educators provided information on how Jones could stay healthy through
changes to lifestyle and diet. Jones feels like a new man. He knows to exercise and stay active, and he knows what to avoid on the grocery store aisle. He’s planning a music festival featuring entertainers with diabetes that will help motivate those with diabetes transition to a new way of life. In the meantime, he’ll use his day job. “The creator wants my voice to be heard, so I’m going to inspire people I can’t see or those I’ll never know,” Jones said. “If I can take control of diabetes, anyone can do it, so I’m not trying to be shy about it.”
Inside ANMED HEALTH 13
Visions
NEWS BRIEFS
2 0 1 7 F O U N D AT I O N Y E A R I N R E V I E W
Because of contributions to the AnMed Health Foundation, hopelessness is replaced with promise. Thanks to all our donors and supporters for improving the life and health of your community.
46%
AnMed Health nurse receives Palmetto Gold Award
ICU is first in SC to earn gold Beacon Award AnMed Health’s ICU recently became the only South Carolina hospital to earn a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). The award recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s Healthy Work Environment Standards: leadership structures and systems; appropriate staffing and staff engagement; effective communications, knowledge management, and learning and development; evidence-based practice and processes; and outcome measurement. Units that achieve this three-year, three-level award (gold, silver and bronze designations) meet national criteria consistent with Magnet Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award. AVP of Nursing Shaunda Trotter credits the staff for their many clinical accomplishments – which include the implementation of evidence-based practices for early mobility, delirium assessment, and nutrition protocols; the creation of a multidisciplinary rounding team that serves as a model for others within the system; and the significant reduction of CLABSI and c.diff occurrences over the last two years. “The ICU has worked hard to facilitate change that improves patient outcomes by collaborating with others throughout the organization,” said Trotter. “I couldn’t be more proud of the work they’ve done and their commitment to the lives of our patients.” In May, the AACN honored AnMed Health with an announcement of its gold-level designation at the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition, the world’s largest educational conference and trade show for nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients.
The South Carolina Nurses Foundation recently recognized an AnMed Health nurse among the state’s best. Shaunda Trotter, assistant vice president for patient care services, is among the recipients of the 2018 Palmetto Gold Award. Palmetto Gold Awards are given to 100 nurses each year who are selected from a nomination process that includes nurses from across the state and a variety of practice settings. According to the South Carolina Nurses Foundation, these nurses exemplify excellence in nursing practice and have a proven commitment to their profession. “Shaunda demonstrates a deep commitment to our patients and to her colleagues,” said Tina Jury, AnMed Health’s executive vice president for patient care services and chief nursing officer. “She is a shining example of a caring professional who Shaunda Trotter has dedicated her life to this purposeful profession. We are very proud of her.” The Palmetto Gold Program, which began in 2001, is a statewide nursing recognition program that showcases nurses’ contributions to patient care and raises scholarship funds for students pursuing an RN.
Employee giving shattered old records when almost half of AnMed Health employees contributed to the annual employee giving campaign.
$125,000 from the Anderson Federal Credit Union was the final large gift that completed a year-long campaign to provide mobile mammography
Longtime physician leader earns Outstanding Clinician Award After more than 40 years of practice in pulmonary and critical care medicine, Dr. William “Bill” Walker of AnMed Health Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine has been honored with the American Thoracic Society’s 2018 Outstanding Clinician Award. The award is given annually to a practicing pulmonary, critical care or sleep clinician who has been recognized by patients and families as a caring and dedicated health care provider and by peers as having made substantial contributions to the clinical care of patients with respiratory disease. His many years of leadership and compassion have earned him the love and Dr. William Walker respect of patients and colleagues alike.
14 Inside ANMED HEALTH
In recommending him for the Outstanding Clinician Award, one colleague wrote, “[Dr. Walker’s] patients benefit richly from his experiences and his willingness to support current trends and research in pulmonary and critical care medicine. […] I have personally observed [him] provide excellence in care many times and with a compassionate heart.” For Dr. Walker, who will accept the award at a ceremony in September, the true honor has been in serving his patients and community. “It’s been an honor to serve my community through these four decades and I still enjoy walking through the doors of my office or hospital, caring for my patients and their families, and seeking new medical knowledge,” said Walker. “It is a tremendous honor and privilege to have walked this journey.”
The foundation supported a Diversity Pioneers project that added three important people to the Medical Center’s history walls. The first African-American director of nursing, the first African-American doctor on staff and the first woman to practice medicine at what was known then as Anderson County Memorial Hospital: Eddey Joyce Green, Dr. William Hermon Young and Dr. Ann Austin Young, respectively.
Goal 2,000 After raising money to purchase a Health Coach, the AnMed Health Foundation set its sights on funding the services for those women who can’t afford a mammogram. The goal is to screen 2,000 women each year.
The foundation supported Connect ’17, a community diversity project undertaken by AnMed Health’s Department of Diversity and Language Services.
About The AnMed Health Foundation: Established in 1985 and re-organized in 2012 as an independent organization, the AnMed Health Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that provides fundraising support for community programs and initiatives at AnMed Health. The Foundation welcomes donations from individuals, families and corporations to further our mission and to ensure that AnMed Health can continue to provide services that improve the health and lives of the people in our community.
Inside ANMED HEALTH 15