Health

Haywood Hospice honors volunteers

Volunteers with Haywood Hospice & Palliative Care were honored at a recent luncheon held at the First Presbyterian Church in Waynesville.

Beverly Murray, Hospice volunteer coordinator, welcomed volunteers and thanked them for making a difference in the lives of hospice patients and families over the last year. Special music was provided by volunteer Don Ostrowsky.

Each volunteer was given a gift bag and a thyme plant as a thank you for the gift of their time to a worthy cause. RN Greg Lathrop was the guest speaker. He is a nurse who serves as a Dying Care Specialist. Lathrop spoke to the group about the ways to empower beauty and contentment at the end of one’s life.

“We are proud to honor our amazing volunteers and acknowledge their hard work in our community,” said Murray. “Our hospice volunteers sacrifice so much of themselves to provide care and support to our patients and our hospice team. Our volunteers are an integral part of our multi-disciplinary team that provides end of life care to our Haywood community.”

For more information on the Haywood Hospice Volunteer Program, contact Murray at 828.452.5039.

Hospice Executive Director Andrea Rogers-Ray, (from left) volunteer Bill Hoke and Cody, and Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Beverly Murray are pictured at a volunteer appreciation event.

Begin your yoga journey

If you are ready to start your day with more happiness, sign up for a seven-day yoga journey starting Sept. 6 with Waynesville Yoga Center.

Starting Sept. 6, WYC will send you six days of practical and easily implemented suggestions for a daily practice. On the seventh day, Sunday, Sept. 12, there will be an in-person sunrise yoga practice at Waterrock Knob to cement the week’s teachings.

The cost of the seven-day program is $35. Register at www.waynesvilleyogacenter.com.

Mental health series at library

The Marianna Black Library in Bryson City, in partnership with the Vaya Health, will be hosting an educational series on adult mental health, every third Thursday of the month through Dec. 16.

Join this group in the meeting room for the first in series titled “Anxiety: Calming the Anxious Mind,” from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19. This free program is open to all and no appointment is necessary. Marianna Black Library, a member of the Fontana Regional Library, is located in Downtown Bryson City at the corner of Academy and Rector. For more information or driving directions, call the library 828.488.3030.

Livsey named to federal board on education

Kae Livsey with Western Carolina University’s School of Nursing has been named to the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice.

Livsey, an associate professor in WCU’s College of Health and Human Sciences, will provide advice and recommendations to the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Congress. Issues facing the federal advisory board include the nursing workforce, nursing education and health care improvement.

“This is a great honor to represent WCU at the national level and to be able to support the advancement of the nursing profession,” said Livsey about the four-year federal appointment.

Livsey’s program of research includes examination of high impact learning experiences and supporting education of professional registered nurses for emerging roles in community settings, including low-income senior housing communities and primary care practice environments.

New CEO named at Angel Medical Center

Mission Health recently hired Clint Kendall as the new Chief Executive Officer and Chief Nursing Officer at Angel Medical Center in Franklin.

Kendall succeeds previous AMC CEO and CNO Karen Gorby, who recently retired after serving as CEO/CNO since February 2016.

Kendall most recently held the position of CEO of Andalusia Health, LifePoint Healthcare, in Andalusia, Alabama, where he oversaw strategic planning and overall management of a 113 bed acute care facility. He also provided oversight of Andalusia Physician Services in South Central Alabama. He believes in promoting transparent communication among providers and employees, and has earned high marks for patient care, safety, culture of excellence and employee satisfaction.

He earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Nursing, and Health Care Management from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Carolina University.

“I am excited to be in the community of Franklin and look forward to caring for the people of this area in my new role at Angel Medical Center. I hope to meet many of you in the coming months,” said Kendall.

New women’s health providers

Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital continue to expand women’s services across Western North Carolina by welcoming board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Jennifer Blattner and board-certified nurse midwife Jessica Williamson to Harris Women’s Care.

The providers at Harris Women’s Care deliver babies at the New Generations Family Birthing Center at Harris Regional Hospital.

Blattner obtained her medical degree from Emory University and completed her internship and residency at the Naval Medical Center San Diego, then practiced as an OB/GYN in the Navy. After her commitment with the Navy was completed, she was in private practice in Hendersonville. Blattner moved to Colorado where she has practiced for the past nine years and acted as the Medical Director for the OB/GYN Department since 2017.

Williamson graduated from the University of Louisiana at Monroe with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and completed her nurse midwifery degree at Frontier Nursing University in Hyden, Kentucky. She has held multiple leadership roles in clinical practice and led a project for nurses in Haiti. She most recently practiced in Asheville and specializes in high-risk pregnancy care.

Sunshine Award winners announced

support services personnel, and volunteers.

This award honors the highly valued and appreciated co-workers and volunteers who show exceptional service and compassion every day. The two winners for the first round of awards are Jill Glosup in Bio-Med and Bethany James, CNA, on the Med-Surg floor.

Glosup’s nominator shared that she is always willing to help. She dropped everything to replace a necessary machine part that allowed surgeries to continue as scheduled. This is an example of the kind of work that patients don’t often see, but that is imperative to serving their needs in a safe, timely way.

James was praised for the care she completes with a reserved, quiet dignity, putting patient needs first.

Visit www.myhaywoodregional.com/sunshineaward to nominate.

Collins wins 2021 Mercy Award

Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital announced Rachel Collins, RN as 2021 Mercy Award winner.

The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of LifePoint Health’s hospitals who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded. Collins cares for patients in the main nursing unit at Swain and has worked for our hospitals since 1995. She has been a longtime resident of Robbinsville and currently resides within the Robbinsville community.

The Mercy Award is an annual recognition program established in 2002 to honor the life and contributions of Scott Mercy, LifePoint’s founding chairman and chief executive officer. The award is considered the highest honor a LifePoint employee can receive.

Dr. Silverberg joins HRMC

Haywood Regional Medical Center recently welcomed Dr. Arnold Silverberg to its staff. Silverberg will be offering services in orthopaedics to patients throughout Haywood County and beyond. His specialties include hip replacement surgery, knee and partial knee replacement surgery and revisions and orthopaedic trauma, using minimally invasive techniques and computer/robotic assistance.

Silverberg joins HRMC from the University of Florida, where he completed a fellowship in Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement. Previously, he earned his Doctor of Medicine from Vanderbilt University.

“I look forward to bringing expertise in hip and knee replacements to Haywood County,” he said. “I will implement both proven methods as well as advanced technology to allow Haywood’s residents to receive the best possible care locally. As an area that features some of the most picturesque natural landscapes in America, having pain-free mobility is essential to allow residents to explore the local beauty.”

Appointments may be made by calling 828.452.4131.