Martha Bassett

Hello good people. I’d like to tell you about some good music that’s coming up. But first, a little background about what I aim for when programing the Martha Bassett Show. In 2018 we partnered with the Reeves Theater in Elkin to create a show that presents equal numbers of women to men on our roster. As a touring artist, I’ve noticed that most music venues and festivals primarily present men with a few female artists sprinkled in. But little by little this is changing, and that’s because of pioneering women like my upcoming guest. On Sept 1, 2022, I’m immensely proud to present the great singer, songwriter, guitarist, banjoist, and fiddler Alice Gerrard on our show. If you’ve been a lover of old time or bluegrass music, chances are you already know the contributions she’s made in musical community building, preservation of our regional folk music, and in her own performing and songwriting. In the 1950s, Alice became steeped in the strong bluegrass and old time scene of Washington, D.C., where men from all over the south were moving to find work, bringing their music with them. It was there that Alice met West Virginia singer and songwriter Hazel Dickens, and together they laid the groundwork for future generations of women to find a home in the world of traditional music. This was not the polished music of the New York folk revival of the 1960s but favored the authentic sounds of Appalachia. Hazel and Alice sang about the struggles of women, of workers, of the common folk.

I am from a small town in central West Virginia, about a half hour from where Hazel Dickens grew up. Every man in my family was a coal miner. I saw extreme poverty in some of my neighbors and I certainly saw the struggles of women. Some of the prominent musicians in the region were my uncles, the Shaffer Family. I always loved the banjo but didn’t consider it as an option for me because I never saw a woman play and I had no mentor. Now the bluegrass landscape is littered with talented female instrumentalists, partly due to the influence of Hazel and Alice.

Alice went on to found “The Old-Time Herald,” a magazine celebrating old time music and dance, and she was editor in chief from 1987 to 2000. In 2015, her album, Follow the Music, was nominated for a Grammy. In 2017, she was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. During the ceremony, the stage was filled with younger female bluegrass artists paying tribute to Alice Gerrard. If you really want to gain a full appreciation of her life to date, watch the documentary, You Gave Me a Song: The Life and Music of Alice Gerrard.

At a time in history when it feels like we’re going backwards in the rights of women to have basic freedom and autonomy, I take heart in our matriarchs. Progress is slow. There is power and healing in music. It’s an act of revolution. Women like Alice Gerrard are role models. Sisters! Let’s make some music!

Northern Regional Hospital

nationally recognized with an

‘A’ Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

Northern Regional Hospital received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for spring 2022. This national distinction recognizes Northern Regional Hospital’s achievements in protecting patients from preventable harm and error in the hospital.

Lynn Lambert, Director of Quality Management at Northern Regional Hospital, who oversaw the Leapfrog assessment, said, “I am honored to be part of the Northern Regional Team where providing safe care is at the forefront every day. Patient safety is intentional with every encounter. Receiving a Leapfrog Grade ‘A’ is recognition that we can all be proud of.“

The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over thirty national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries, and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.

“I am extremely proud of the entire NRH team of 1,000 caregivers. An ‘A’ grade confirms our efforts to deliver the highest quality of care and places NRH in the top tier of all hospitals in the United States. Job well done,” said Chris Lumsden, president and CEO of Northern Regional Hospital.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harms to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.

“As our health care system continues to feel the strain of the pandemic, I thank the workforce and leadership of Northern Regional Hospital for sustained commitment to patient safety, day in and day out,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “An ‘A’ Safety Grade is an outstanding achievement, and one that is not possible without a 24/7 effort by the entire health care workforce to protect patients from harm. This community should be proud.” To see Northern Regional Hospital’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter, Facebook, and via its newsletter.

+++ About Northern Regional Hospital Northern Regional Hospital (NRH) is a 133-bed hospital located in Mount Airy, North Carolina, serving the northwest Piedmont region of NC and neighboring counties in southwestern Virginia. Founded in 1957, it is an independently operated, award-winning healthcare facility. Northern Medical Group is the Hospital’s network of primary care and specialty providers, delivering a comprehensive array of services to meet the needs of the community. The state-of-the art Surgery Center houses a wide range of inpatient and outpatient procedures including orthopedics, gynecology, gastroenterology, urological, eye surgeries, and other general surgeries.

About The Leapfrog Group Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward for patient safety. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and newLeapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Surveycollect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.

For more information Northern Regional Hospital donate, visit choosenorthern.org