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Archives ●Current
●November
2011
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2011
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2011
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(828) 526-1376.
For
general inquiries send an email to:
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Highlands-
Cashiers Hospital
Letter To The Editor
October 2011
With the first Annual Pour le Pink 5k a success, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital wants to sincerely thank the numerous volunteers, sponsors and race participants for making it all possible! Both the Highlands and Cashiers communities truly came together to support a deserving event. The generosity of donations, time and hard work not only benefited the hospital but fostered awareness of women’s health and wellness. The 5k walk/run held on Saturday, October 15th, raised nearly $9,000 in support of breast health and women’s services. These funds, along with the Cullasaja Cares Fund, will help seven local breast cancer survivors who are in financially stressed situations as well as allow the hospital to sustain its digital mammography services and other health services unique to women. Thirty five event sponsors, seventy eight runners/walkers and nearly twenty five volunteers undoubtedly show the commitment to keep our community members healthy.
It is impossible to host an event such as this without the help of individuals and businesses. It is such a wonderful statement about the heart of our residents, that despite difficult economic times, these sponsors responded to help. Many thanks to Highlands Road Runner’s Club, Skip Taylor, Richard Betz, Morris Williams, Helen Tankersley, Martha Betz, Suzanne Donino, Beautiful Demise Screen Printing, Town of Highlands, Highlands Fire Department, Macon County Sheriff’s Department, Macon County EMS, The Laurel Magazine, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Auxiliary and Gift Shop, Highlands-Cashiers Board of Realtors, Old Edwards Club Ladies Book Club, The Highlander, The Highlands Newspaper, Scaly Mountain Women’s Club, WHLC, Cashiers Printing, Center for Plastic Surgery – Highlands, NC, Coca-Cola, Highlands Grading, Highlands Playhouse, Rotary Club of Cashiers Valley, Rotary Club of Highlands-Mountaintop, The Chattooga Club, Wachovia, August Produce, Aery Chiropractic and Acupuncture, The Animal Wellness Hospital of Highlands, Griffin and Glenda Bell, Jr., Double Springs Church of God, Deborah Berlin, Edwards Electrical Service, Finishing Touches Unlimited, Highlands Cable Group, Highlands Country Club, Highlands Dermatology, Highlands Inn and Lodge, Highlands Pharmacy, Ingles, Koenig Homebuilders, Lindsay Gearhart, May Schmitt, Mountain Fresh Grocery, Mountain Heritage, Northland Communications, and Woofgang's Bakery.
-Highlands-Cashiers Hospital
Bob Jones Tournament Proceeds
October 2011
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| Bob Jones Tournament Proceeds |
The 30th annual Bob Jones Invitational Golf Tournament held this summer season raised nearly $137,000 for Highlands-Cashiers Hospital. This year’s tournamen took place on August 20th at Highlands Country Club. Earle Mauldin, Co-chair of the Bob Jones Golf Committee and Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Foundation Chairman (left), presented a check to Robin Tindall-Taylor, Foundation Executive Director.
Other tournament committee members unavailable for the photograph were Anne Bailey (Co-chair), Wayne Beckner, John McKey Jr, Allen Hardin, Helen Hobbs, Jim Santo, Jim McElwee and Ruthie Watts. This year’s proceeds bring the total contribution from the tournament to the Foundation since 1981 to over $3.2 million dollars. Funds raised through this golf tournament assist the hospital in providing diagnostic, surgical and acute patient care to the public through on-site professional services, or as a referral to regional support providers assuring quality healthcare services are available to our communities.
Hospital Offers Complimentary Flu Vaccines November 14th
October 2011
Area residents have the opportunity to take advantage of receiving complimentary flu vaccines being offered by Highlands-Cashiers Hospital.
The hospital will conduct its annual community influenza clinic providing flu vaccines, more commonly known as the flu shot, combination of seasonal and H1N1, on Monday, November 14th from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. on the first floor of the Jane Woodruff Clinic, Suite 103 located on the hospital campus. Vaccines are available on a first come, first serve basis. You must pre-register by calling (828) 526-1498. Pre-registration is required due to limited availability.
“The vaccination is safe and effective. It’s not a live vaccine and this means you cannot get the flu from the shot” says Cindy Coley, RN, Infection Control Nurse at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital.
“The best protection against the flu still remains the vaccine”, Coley remarked. “We are encouraging everyone to get a flu shot this year. It’s important to remember that flu vaccinations need to be given each year as the viruses can mutate or change. The sooner one is vaccinated the better. The CDC says that it can take up 10 to 14 days for one to develop immunity to the flu shot.
In conjunction with the vaccine, there are proven ways to reduce and avoid infection. Frequent hand washing, avoiding anyone who is sick, staying at home if you are sick, if you have a fever, staying at home until no fever has reoccurred 24 hours after the last fever reducing medications has been taken, and practicing respiratory etiquette (covering your mouth when you cough, disposing of used tissues in trashcans and washing your hands with soap and water or using the alcohol based hand sanitizers) are helpful practices to keep you healthy.”
About Highlands-Cashiers Hospital
“HCH is a community hospital that provides diagnostic, surgical and acute patient care to the public through on-site professional services, or as a referral to regional support providers. Our emergency care facility is Doctor attended 24/7 and treats patients promptly, monitoring their visit with personal care and attention. We make the extra effort to assure that you get “best of class care”, and feel “special” every time you pass through our doors. HCH also provides Physician Clinics, a skilled Nursing Facility, Hospice Care, Skilled Rehabilitation, and Medically-Based Wellness Programs allowing individuals and families nearby access to professional care in these critical areas. The hospital continues to expand its programs to provide the public the broadest possible range of quality healthcare. Our Board-Certified Physician Staff continues to grow to better serve you, as do our medical specialties now covering 18 areas of healthcare, specialties usually only found in much larger facilities. We continually update our range of diagnostic procedure by adding new state-of-the-art equipment.”
Our goal is to be the healthcare partner to whom you can entrust your life.
Nursing Staff At Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Excel.
October 2011
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| Virginia Stewart and Janessa Crawford |
Three members of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Nursing team recently received advanced certifications, specializing in emergency care.
Virginia Stewart, RN, Janessa Crawford, RN, and Meg Galloway, RN, were each awarded the credential of Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN). This designation is a nationally recognized credential from the Emergency Nurses Association, CEN’s are skilled at dealing with patients when a diagnosis has not yet been made and the cause of the problem is unknown. Their focus is treating patients in the emergency or critical phase of their illness or injury.
Crawford, who has been a registered nurse for nearly 7 years said “I strive every day and with every patient to exceed the typical standards of care. I chose to continue my training and concentration in emergency nursing to better prepare myself for my job, my career.”
Nurses interested in specializing in emergency room care can obtain an additional certification in the field by passing the Certified Emergency Nurse exam. The exam tests nurses on a variety of emergency room situations, including gastrointestinal emergencies, neurological emergencies, respiratory emergencies, substance abuse emergencies, and wound management.
“Our hospital has over 75 nurses working alongside experienced and committed Medical staff with one goal in mind- to provide the highest levels of quality health care available,” said Eileen Lipham, HCH Chief Nursing Officer. “Earning the certifications says that our nurses are committed to an ongoing process of education, in bettering their skills and abilities to treat our patients.”
HCH Awarded Accreditation From The Joint Commission
October 2011
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Highlands-Cashiers Hospital (HCH) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in hospitals. The accreditation award recognizes HCH’s dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards.
The hospital underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site survey in June of this year. A team of Joint Commission surveyors evaluated for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.
“This was a very thorough and tough review and we are very pleased to have done well,” said Craig James, Hospital President and CEO. "We are making a significant investment in quality on a day-to-day basis from the top down. Joint Commission accreditation provides us a framework to take our organization to the next level and helps create a culture of excellence.”
James continued to say that “Participating in the accreditation process helps us identify those areas where we might be able to improve the quality of care we provide our patients and residents. Accreditation is a voluntary process and we do this because we want to be the best facility possible. We are committed to elevating the standard of care and building confidence in the communities we serve.”
The Joint Commission’s hospital standards address important functions relating to the care of patients and the management of hospitals. The standards are developed in consultation with health care experts, providers, measurement experts and patients.
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 18,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.
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