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Local hospitals earn 3 of 5 stars in rating report BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com Tuomey Healthcare System and Clarendon Health System hospitals have each received three stars in a new five-star hospital rating system posted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at www. medicare.gov. CMS says the ratings are based on data from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey, which has been in use since 2006 to measure patients’ perspectives of hospital care, and includes topics such as doctor and nurse communication, staff response to patient needs, room cleanliness and noise levels, and how well staff prepared patients for care after being discharged. A
minimum of 100 surveys filled out in the past 12 months was required for a hospital to receive a rating. The ratings are based on the percentage of positive responses received, with the top-10 percent of hospitals rating five stars, the bottom 20 percent receiving a rating of one star and the remaining 70 percent equally divided into four-, three- and two-star ratings. A three-star rating, which Tuomey and Clarendon received,would fall approximately in the 44 percent to 67 percent range. “Tuomey is always striving to improve its patient satisfaction scores, and we make an effort daily to improve service to our patients and their families,” said Brenda Chase, director of
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Bond reduced for homicide suspect KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Becky Starnes, “Minnie Pearl,” performs her tribute to the star of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years and TV’s “Hee Haw” for the crowd having lunch at the Shepherd’s Center on Thursday. The Shepherd’s Center is an interfaith ministry whose mission is to support and promote successful aging through programs and services, volunteer and support opportunities for adults 50 years of age and older. The Sumter ministry was founded in 1983 and is an affiliate member of The Shepherd’s Centers of America, based in Kansas City, Missouri.
Machinists withdraw request for S.C. Boeing union vote BY BRUCE SMITH The Associated Press CHARLESTON — The Machinists union is delaying its attempt to organize Boeing workers in South Carolina, announcing Friday that it’s withdrawing a petition to hold a union vote next week because of what it called a toxic atmosphere and political interference. Almost 3,200 production workers at Boeing facilities in North Charleston, where the aeronautics giant has a 787 assembly plant, were eligible to vote in the election that was set for April 22. Withdrawing its petition before the National Labor Relations Board means there cannot now be another union vote for at least six months. Boeing employs nearly 7,500 workers in South Carolina. “We’ve determined now is not the right time for an election,” said Mike Evans, lead organizer for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. “An atmosphere of threats, harassment and unprecedented political interference has intimidated workers to the point we don’t believe a free and fair election is possible.” The union said it had contacted about 1,700 workers, but Evans said the home visits were suspended after two organizers were threatened at gunpoint and other workers reported hostile confrontations. “I hold the Boeing Co., South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and their surrogates responsible for creating an atmosphere of state-sanctioned hostility toward unions and union organizers,” Evans said.
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“The IAM’s allegations are ridiculous,” responded company spokeswoman Candy Eslinger. “We’ve taken a very transparent approach to informing our teammates and the community about what it means to be represented by the IAM. We have provided factual information backed up by data throughout this entire process.” Haley, a strong opponent of unions, had urged Boeing workers to vote against representation. “We are proud of our loyal workforce, their unmatched work ethic and the strong, direct relationships they have with employers in our state,” Haley said in a statement released by her office. “In South Carolina our workers know that we always have their back.” The AP left a message with Haley seeking comment on the union allegations. Beverly Wyse, vice president and general manager for Boeing South Carolina, issued a statement thanking workers for “their passion, spirit and determination to move forward together.” She added that “we now have the opportunity to make Boeing South Carolina and our local community an even better place to work and live.” The union, which has filed unfair labor practice complaints, said it will continue efforts to organize Boeing workers. Less than 4 percent of workers in South Carolina are members of unions. The Machinists have had members in the Charleston area before. The union won the
SEE UNION, PAGE A7
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BY MATT BRUCE matthew@theitem.com The suspect in a double homicide that took place inside a Cherryvale home a little more than two years ago was given a reduced bond Friday morning during a hearing at Sumter County Judicial Center. Arsenio Donta Colclough, a 27-year-old Sumter man, faces two counts of murder stemming from the shooting deaths of Reyshaun SherCOLCLOUGH rod Holmes and Willie Jermaine Chatman. Deputies found the cousins dead inside their shared home in the 4300 block of Confederate Road early the morning of April 12, 2013.
Colclough was arrested in connection with the slayings Oct. 1, 2013, and has remained jailed at Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center ever since. He stood before Circuit Court Judge Howard P. King asking for a reduction in his bond. Sumter County court records show King issued Colclough a $200,000 bond last April. Officials said he opted to reduce the bond to $100,000 on Friday, citing the fact that it had been a year since he last set bail in the unresolved case. Colclough faces a pair of murder charges and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime in connection with the 2013 shooting. Records indicated the
SEE BOND, PAGE A7
County, EMS look into new shift schedule, ambulance BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Another ambulance and a new schedule could be the changes needed to give Sumter County Emergency Medical Services employees an optimal amount of time off between shifts while reducing the turnover rate for the department. The most immediate hurdle is fitting those items into Sumter County’s 2016 budget. According to the proposed budget report, the county would have a deficit of $1.9 million with estimated expenditures of $49.8 million and anticipated revenues of $47.9 million.
Sumter County Administrator Gary Mixon said there is a definite need for additional personnel and a seventh ambulance for the EMS department so the county will work to add those things to the 2016 budget. EMS Director Robert Hingst has proposed the department implement a 24/72 schedule, meaning employees work for a period of 24 hours and have the next 72 hours off. Sumter County EMS employees currently work a 24/48 schedule. “At the end of the day, they are pretty exhausted from being under constant pressure,” Hingst said. He said the
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