BEST OF EDMOND

Exceeding the Needs

by Melanie Phillips Clemens

Until 1947, Edmond residents had to travel the dirt roads to Oklahoma City for medical attention. Fortunately, a group of physicians and businessmen saw the need and opened what is now known as OU Medical Center Edmond. Th e hospital, originally housed on the top fl oor of the Broncho Th eater on Broadway, is now at 2nd and Bryant. While “Th e Sound of Music” no longer plays in the background, their services remain “second to none” and are bringing in patients from all over the state.

“Our wound care specialist, Dr. Gregory Morgan, M.D. trained with the doctor who fi rst began using hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of chronic wounds,” said Leslie Buford, communications director for the Edmond campus. Shane Hull, D.O., pulmonary disease specialist, uses an endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) to view regions of the lung and chest area. Unlike traditional lung biopsies, the EBUS is less invasive and faster results mean quicker treatment. “Our fi rst patient to undergo the ultrasound with Dr. Hull had sought treatment in multiple ER’s for fi ve years with the same diagnosis. Th ey kept prescribing medication for asthma and pneumonia but our ultrasound showed something diff erent so we put her on a medication program that helped. Before she came to us, she couldn’t walk down stairs, and now she can travel across the country to visit her daughter.”

Expectant mothers can look forward to the new labor/delivery unit scheduled to open in September. “We’ll have alternative laboring options such as tubs for women who don’t want to take drugs during labor. Also, moms will be in the same room throughout labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum. Mom and baby will stay together with the same nurse taking care of both. Another fi rst in the OKC metro is our MRI machine which is the latest, most innovative on the market. It’s faster, the images are clearer, it can accommodate patients up to 450 pounds and has an iPod dock for patients who’d rather listen to their own music,” said Buford.

Leslie Buford, OU Medical Center Edmond

With facility updates and advanced technology, OU Medical Center Edmond is equipped to handle the changing needs of the community without compromising the quality care their patients have come to expect. “We’re licensed for 94 beds, staff ed with 150 active doctors and over 250 nurses. We want people to feel that they’re taken care of,” said Buford. “Since we’re a smaller hospital, some think we’re not as advanced as bigger hospitals, which is simply not true. We have the same technology and an amazing staff . We’re the best secret in the metro.”

On the Upswing

by Melanie Phillips Clemens

Coff ee Creek Golf Club is normally open seven days a week, from sunup to sundown. Th is summer, however, the club is taking a break. Coff ee Creek is closing on July 18, with reopening scheduled for Labor Day weekend. “We’ll be re-turfi ng 20 greens, totaling about 130,000 square feet,” explains Andy McCormick. “Th is is the most important thing we’ve done since buying and remodeling River Oaks in 1999.”

McCormick is referring to the addition of a new type of grass, called Champion Ultra Dwarf. Having been on the market since 1996, its temperament was unproven – a risky investment when faced with Oklahoma’s extreme weather conditions. For four years, the grass has undergone a trial run – with encouraging results. “We’re following a few who took a risk early and converted,” said McCormick. “Champion has made it through Oklahoma winters when it was 20 degrees below. We’ve visited places around Shawnee and Lake Texoma. Th e reviews were tremendous; giving Coff ee Creek the ability to off er improved grass conditions throughout the summer.”

Coff ee Creek Golf Club opened its doors in 1991 with local golfers in mind. Millennium Golf Properties, owner of both Coff ee Creek and River Oaks courses, recruited McCormick to be its director of golf in February 1992. “At the time, golf was exploding as a sport, and we wanted to tie that into Edmond. Th ere were private clubs, but very few courses that were open to the public,” said McCormick.

“We had tremendous success all through the ‘90s. By 1996, we were doing 45,000 rounds each year. Unfortunately, those numbers have declined. We’ve known for years that golfers choose courses based on the quality of the greens, and that’s been an issue for us,” said McCormick. “Th e grass we had just wasn’t as good as we wanted it to be – but now we’ve found a way to address those concerns and bring our greens up to par.”

Compared to the grass previously used by Coff ee Creek, Champion is simple. It can be mowed a tenth of an inch and has a density that resists ball marks – providing golfers with a quality green on which to play. “It’s exciting to make this kind of commitment, to take that step forward. Just like any business, you’ve got to continue looking for ways to improve,” said McCormick. “We’re very excited to see Edmond’s response, and to continue our relationship with the community.”

Coff ee Creek Golf Club is located at 4000 N. Kelly Ave. For more information, call 405-340-4653 or visit www.coff eecreekgolfclub.com.

Scott Smelser & Andy McCormick,

Coffee Creek Golf Course