Baptist Memorial Hospital Union County
‘Celebrating 50 years of compassionate care’ A special section from The New Albany Gazette, March 16, 2016
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Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
New Albany Gazette
New Albany Gazette
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Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
Union County health care:
From one doctor to a premier community hospital
UNION COUNTY HERITAGE MUSEUM
Union County General Hospital as it opened in 1966 with only three stories and 65 beds. From its birth in the early 19th century, Union County’s healthcare offerings have grown by leaps and bounds. New Albany’s first community physician was Dr. W.N. Moss, the namesake of Moss Hill Drive, who was here when the city was founded in the 1840s. “[Dr. Moss] got here just in time for a scarlet fever epidemic,” Jill Smith, director of the Union County Heritage Museum, said.
For those who could not afford a hospital or lived too far out for a doctor to come in time, midwives were often the ones delivering babies around the Union County. “Midwives were organized by the health department because of the state’s high record of infant mortality,” Smith said. “They helped standardized healthcare.” In 1926 the first Health Department opened in New Albany, and staff began
looking at water sources and healthcare in rural areas. The department provided training and equipment for midwives. They also organized nurses to go into schools to give immunizations. Of course the community has changed in multiple ways since the days of midwives and midnight house calls. One of the most interesting sides of this is the transportation used to get to the hospital. “Until the 1960s there were no ambu-
lances,” Smith said. “The hearse at the funeral home would transport you.” The fee was usually $5 if you were in the city limits and $7.50 for an out-in-thecounty call. The first hospital arrived in Union County in the teens or early ‘20s, and was founded by Dr. Hugh Mayes. The Mayes Hospital, located on Main Street,
See HEALTH, p. 5
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Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
New Albany Gazette
Baptist is faith-based, non-profit organization
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County is one of 14 affiliate hospitals owned by Baptist Memorial Health Care, based in Memphis. The non-profit system that began in 1912 with a single 150-bed hospital has grown to the point of being the largest privately owned hospital in the nation. It was created with the intent of caring for people close to their homes and the inclusion of Union County’s hospital ideally fit that goal. The organization’s mission is consistent with the three-fold ministries of the Christ: healing, preach-
ing and teaching. They key values include compassionate care, teamwork and trust, innovation and excellence, and respect for the individual and value of diversity. The healthcare system was founded by the Southern Baptist Conventions of Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi and now includes more than 2,300 beds in those three states. They discharged more than 87,000 patients this past year and their emergency departments saw more than 383,000 patients. The system reported slightly more than 11,000 births in 2015
with BMH-Union County accounting for more than a tenth of the total. The fiscal year 2012 combined economic impact of Baptist Memorial Health Care was estimated at a total production of goods and services (output) value of more than $2.6 billion according to the Sparks Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Memphis. Total salaries, wages, and benefits were $1.1 billion and the system had 21,263 full- and part-time jobs. Affiliate hospitals in addition to Union County include Baptist Me-
Workers prepare the new sign to change the name to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County in 1989.
morial Hospital-Booneville, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville, Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto. Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle in Columbus, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Huntingdon, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis, Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City, Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women in Memphis, Baptist Memorial Restorative Care Hospital in Memphis, Baptist Rehabilitation-Germantown and NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro.
UNION COUNTY HERITAGE MUSEUM
New Albany Gazette
Health From HEALTH, p. 1
was bought by Dr. Robert Shands in 1937. Shands was a pioneer in surgery and received a lot of good surgical experience while serving in the Pacific theatre during World War II. Shands was known for developing a new method of surgically treating facial fractures that significantly reduced surgical time and scarring. His paper on the subject appears in the January 1956 issue of American Journal of Surgery. Dr. Shands died in 1963 of a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Before he died, he sold the hospital to the county. When the Union County General Hospital opened its doors in 1966, it was surrounded by gullies and kudzu and staffed by five doctors. One of those physicians, Dr. James Thorton, will go down in hospital history as being the doctor who delivered the first baby inside the Union County
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Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
Congratulations Baptist General Hospital in 1966. Thornton was also one of the doctors to come over to Union County General from the Shands hospital. Originally a smaller three-story structure, the hospital has grown from a 65-bed facility into a state-of-the-art, fully accredited 153-bed hospital with five floors. In 1987 Baptist signed a management agreement with Union County General, and in 1989 the hospital name was changed to Baptist Memorial HospitalUnion County. After becoming part of Baptist Memorial Health Care, Baptist-Union County completed a 70,000-square-foot expansion and renovation project in 1993 that included a new bed tower, surgical and recovery suites, emergency department and convenient patient loading areas. In 2014 the hospital opened a new $12million emergency department with 22 patient examination rooms.
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New Albany Gazette
Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
Baptist continues to grow and advance technology While many hospitals in small communities around the state and country have been closing their doors in recent years, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County has seen continued growth and advancement in its patient care to the residents of Union County and beyond. Founded as a 65-bed facility in 1966, Union County General Hospital was a small operation that served the local community’s health needs. In the span of more than 45 years, the hospital, under the Baptist Healthcare umbrella has grown into a 153-bed facility. It features 24-hour emergency services, a state-of-the-art surgical unit, comprehensive and advanced diagnostic and therapeutic services, a women’s center, pediatric services, outpatient surgery and more. The newly-constructed emergency department treats over 25,000 people annually, and includes trauma and car-
diac rooms. In 2008, the hospital expanded its Women’s Center. With the expansion, facility now provides the latest in birthing techniques and features 10 labor/ delivery/recovery suites, 28 post partum rooms, Cesarean delivery suites, expanded nursery and waiting room. According to hospital officials, more than 1,200 babies are now born at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County each year. Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County offers a comprehensive range of services including CT, MRI, mammography, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, laboratory services, general and laser surgery, orthopedic surgery, urology, otolaryngology, rehabilitation services, respiratory services and an intensive care unit. The Multi-Specialty Clinic provides local access to specialties such as podiatry, pain management,
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and neurology. The Baptist Healthplex offers fitness, rehabilitation, and health education activities in a 33,900 square foot wellness facility in addition to over 4,200 sq. ft. of Outpatient Rehabilitation services. The Healthplex is equipped with a variety of exercise equipment, indoor swimming pool, indoor walking track, racquetball court, basketball court, and aerobic room. A variety of classes are offered including pediatric and adult swim lessons, Spin, Zumba, dance, yoga, body sculpting, and Fit Kids. Child care and massage therapy are also available. Individual, family, and corporate rates are available. Within the past three years alone, the hospital has seen several major technological advances that have allowed patient care to continually grow. These advances are as follows:
2013
CT Scanner - Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County installed a new GE LightSpeed VCT 64 slice Computed Tomography scanner, which features adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction. This new scanner makes significant contributions towards healthcare in New Albany and Union County due to the scanner’s ability to lower the patients’ radiation exposure when being scanned.
Tele-neurology – The hospital partnered with Specialists on Call, Inc. to expand its stroke and emergency neurology treatment. Through the partnership, the country’s best neurologists are able to directly visit the bedside of stroke patients via electronic communication.
See GROWTH, p. 7
Now in New Albany
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Congratulations on your 50th Anniversary!
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New Albany Gazette
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Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
Baptist continues to grow and advance technology
From GROWTH, p. 6 “Because every minute counts during a stroke, neurology telemedicine will enable a faster diagnosis and treatment,” says Randy White, chief nursing officer at Baptist-Union County. “Acquiring this new technology furthers our reputation of providing quality emergency services to area patients.” “Baptist Union County is committed to providing better emergency care to our community, and neurology telemedicine is one of the many ways we are enhancing our services,” said Walter Grace, chief executive officer and administrator at Baptist UnionCounty. Specialists on Call provides teleneurology services to more than 300 hospitals nationwide. Voalté system – This system uses the Apple iPhone interface to allow clini-
cal staff to make and receive calls over the hospital’s private phone system, receive and respond to patient alarms and alerts and communicate with other hospital staff through secure two-way messaging. “With this system, our clinicians can respond quickly to patients’ calls and collaborate with other clinical staff on patient care via text messaging or phone calls,” said Karen Young, nursing informatics analyst at Baptist Union County. This quick and accurate communication system will contribute to excellent patient care.”
ing, NMMC’s neonatologists can now provide immediate consultative care to physicians in New Albany. Doctors can now evaluate newborns that are considered high-risk with NMMC without leaving the city. “This partnership will enhance the services we offer newborns, particularly those who need intensive care,” Grace said. “Patients can now receive this service without leaving New Albany. The evaluation will come from physicians trained specifically to handle the most complex and high-risk situations in newborns.”
Tele-neonatology – The hospital partnered with North Mississippi Medical Center’s Women’s Hospital to provide neonatal care to newborn babies and their mothers through electronic communication. Using innovative two-way audiovisual communications, clinical data access and medical imag-
2014 Lift system – In the spring, Baptist Memorial-Union County installed a lift system in order to reduce the number of employee injuries resulting from patient care. From 2010- 2012, Baptist Union County had 25 safe patient han-
dling-related employee injuries. Use of the lift equipment is expected to reduce that number by 70 percent. In addition, hospital and patient safety leaders anticipate the lift equipment will lead to a 30 percent reduction in patient falls and hospital-acquired pressure ulcers, an increase in employee retention, reduced patient length of stay and an increase in patient satisfaction. Nurses are twice as likely as other workers to suffer ergonomic injuries. In fact, 52 percent of nurses have chronic back pain and 12 percent leave the profession each year because of back pain. In one eight-hour shift, a typical nurse lifts 3,600 lbs., or 1.8 tons. “To increase workplace safety, we made the investment in new lift equipment and training to lift and move patients more safely and efficiently,” Grace said. “It’s an investment for our
See GROWTH, p. 8
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Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
New Albany Gazette
Baptist continues to grow and advance technology From GROWTH, p. 7 employees and our patients to continue to provide the best care possible.� Omnicell technology - Nurses, doctors and other hospital personnel at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County now have access to a new way of getting medicine dispersed to the patient. This new technology is called Omnicell and is an automated medication dispensing system. The new system uses bar code scanning and has safety features to ensure accurate medication administration and security. Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County is a part of the Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, named one of the Top 100 Integrated Health Care Systems in the country. If referrals are necessary, other hospitals in the Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, es-
pecially nearby Oxford and Memphis, are readily available. According to the Mississippi Hospital Association, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County has an overall economic impact of more than $74 million. Electronic Medical Records - At the end of 2014, Baptist Union County began using the Baptist OneCare system, an electronic health record powered by Epic software. The OneCare system creates a single patient record that both caregivers and patients will be able to access. The biggest convenience for patients is MyChart, a free app accessible via Smartphone or computer that allows patients to schedule appointments, refill prescriptions, direct message their care providers with the option of including photos, access lab results and much more.
This hospital as it appeared in 1989.
J. Lynn West/Gazette Staff
Staff members demonstrate one of the lift devices that helps patients stand up without being helped by nurses.
UNION COUNTY HERITAGE MUSEUM
New Albany Gazette
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Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
Administrator cites teamwork, commitment to quality People may not realize it but Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County is – literally – the best hospital in the country in at least one category. The Premier Group recognized BMH-Union County for the past year as the only hospital in the nation to meet all Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services criteria to be qualified as a center of excellence in patient care and service. Administrator and CEO Walter Grace chalks the success up to a combination of cooperation and quality that leads to a sense of family for employees and even patients. “You don’t have the politics and turf battles I have seen in other hospitals,” he said. “It’s all about what’s best for the patient.” The hospital opened as Union County General Hospital in 1966 under the HillBurton plan and the Baptist foundation took over operation in 1979. “Danny Jordan (recently retired president of the Union County Board of Supervisors) said leasing to Baptist was one of the best things the county had ever done,” Grace said. The move relieved county officials of having to operate something they knew little about as well as having to fund the facility. Since 1979, Baptist has put about $70 million in capital improvements into the hospital, Grace said. The hospital has continued to grow physically as well as in terms of service over the years, but like the healthcare industry as a whole, faces challenges. His biggest struggle is with reimbursement for care. “It is getting less and less,” he said. Also, healthcare is changing from inpatient to outpatient. “We average 30 patients a day for inpatient; as recently as 10 years ago it was maybe 100 a day,” Grace said. “We have increased our services, yet our inpatient has declined.” He attributed this partly to the way those reimbursements are made with the
NEW ALBANY GAZETTE
Administrator Walter Grace, left, looks at some of the new electronic medical records technology with, from left, Janice Smith, Chief Nursing Officer Randy White and Donna Swann. shift toward managed agencies such as Magnolia Health. Many agencies are cutting approved services to the bare minimum, or less. On the plus side, the new $12 million emergency department has been a success. “The ED saw 23 percent growth within 12 months after it opened and this year it saw 12-13 percent growth on top of that,” Grace said. “Yesterday (Sunday, March 6) we saw 121 patients in the Emergency Department.” The women’s center is moving from 1,000 live births to quite possibly 1,100 this year and the number of surgical procedures is increasing as well. Also changing is the way hospitals op-
erate as businesses. “We are changing as a company and changing as a hospital,” he said. The hospital no longer operates autonomously but instead works more as part of a system. “We look at what is best for the entire organization,” he said. “For example, if I were to consider adding a service I would look at how it impacts our sister hospitals. We get a lot of synergy with our 12 department leaders.” He said some share leadership for departments at sister hospital Booneville and others at North Mississippi in Oxford. “It has been a little bit of an adjustment,” he added, but the hospital is also using some of the planning and management techniques adopted by Toyota to
create a comprehensive set of goals posted in the boardroom which Grace said essentially serves as their war room. Despite the investment into the hospital and community made by Baptist over the years, there is no sign of stopping. “We added three physicians this past year; two OB/GYNs and a surgeon,” Grace said. “We currently have an offer to another internal medicine candidate and hope he will start here Aug. 1.” Although he did not name the candidate, Grace confirmed he does have local ties and will be in practice with another local physician. Possibly of more interest are plans for
See ADMINISTRATOR, p. 10
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New Albany Gazette
Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
Administrator cites teamwork, commitment to quality From ADMINISTRATOR, p. 9 cancer treatment. “We are currently working with Dr. Michael Jones to create the Baptist Cancer Center in the former emergency department and hope to open it also Aug. 1,” Grace said. “It will do all therapy except radiation to start with and we will refer patients needing radiation therapy to our sister hospital in Oxford.” Already, Grace continued, on the vacant third floor they have established a temporary infusion center and are seeing a limited number of patients who may be unable to get into the Jones Clinic. Jones staff members operate that center in the hospital three days a week. Grace said the hospital has a close affiliation with Vanderbilt and other hospitals and said “A patient can go to Little Rock to have a protocol set up and then
have it done right here.” He also anticipates bringing in additional oncologists once business grows. “We’re constantly looking for new opportunities,” he said. “We are not satisfied with the status quo.” Opportunities already taken include the addition of an automated drug distribution system, the MyChart internet service that allows patients access to lab and test results, physicians and appointment, and telemedicine, which is affecting neurology treatment, psychiatric illness, intensive care and will add more soon. Grace said the hospital is talking with two schools about having a general surgery residency program here and also a D. O. residency, although nothing is set yet, and wants to add someone in the pulmonary disease field. “Our biggest discharge diagnosis is COPD and we don’t even have one in town,” he said, although
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telemedicine will help. The Healthplex, which is often overlooked, has really grown and added members, he said, In coming years it will be even more important in terms of preventive measures and an aging population. “A General Inpatient Care program is in the planning stages for patients who have exhausted their Medicare days so we can give them a little more treatment,” he said, and more emphasis is being placed on hospice and palliative care. “The new physician has experience in palliative care to help cope with dying. We have worked with palliative care but having a doctor on board would add credibility,” Grace said. “We are a full-service hospital. What we do is significant,” he said. Grace said the hospital plans to recognize physicians and employees March 30 for their work in building the hospital
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over the past half century. “Our physicians, department leaders and front-line employees are what makes our hospital as good as it is,” he said. “We want to be more about quality and service than how old we are,” he continued. “Our age is not something we can rest on in the future, but on quality and service we can.” Those are the two common threads he sees in BMH-Union County’s success. “We are fortunate to have such a great team and be able to do such good work and not be penalized by Medicare,” Grace said. “Our physicians work so well together and there is not a territorial attitude. We have a tremendous, tremendous program here.” “I’ve been with Baptist 20 years but I think we have the best to offer there is,” he concluded.
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New Albany Gazette
Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
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Baptist volunteers continue 33 years of service Since 1981, a group of volunteers, known as the Baptist Auxiliary, has put in countless hours of their time, work, and dedication to volunteering their services and help in and around the local hospital. As a way of honoring these volunteers, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County is celebrates National Volunteer Week every April. Joyce Sumners, the longest volunteer since the auxiliary’s inception, said that she thinks of her volunteer work as a lot of fun. “I like the interaction with people. I deliver magazines and juice and I feel like the interaction between the patients and their families helps them and helps me realize how fortunate I am. This is a project that I have enjoyed being a part of for so many years,” said Sumners. The Auxiliary has approximately 25 volunteers that work on different shifts performing various tasks around the hospital. The volunteers make door hangers, flower arrangements, serve juice from the juice cart to patients, deliver magazines, work the information desk, have raised money for the hospital’s chapel, work at the hospital gift shop, raised money for the furniture that is located in the cafeteria, raised money for stuffed animals and toys for outpatient children, have provided wheelchairs, and more. All of the sales from items purchased at the hospital’s gift shop go towards funding new and on-going projects for the hospital. On-going projects include providing clocks for patients’ rooms, providing animals and toys for pediatric patients, and providing the New Testament for newborns. Bernice Bailey said that volunteering is very rewarding for her and is a great opportunity to give back to the community. All of the volunteers did say they wish that there were more volunteers and that they wish that more men would volunteer their time and efforts.
Reba Dunson, volunteer coordinator said, “In 2012, the volunteers contributed $10,712 to projects. Overall, the volunteers have contributed $174,471 to projects, with almost $13,000 of this spent providing our pediatric patients with animals or toys. The cumulative volunteer hours of service are over 80,400 hours.” Baptist Auxiliary volunteers have provided a lot of funding towards the hospital in many ways. For example, the volunteers have donated $13,000 towards furniture in the cafeteria, $3,000 towards wheelchairs, $500 towards infant car seats, $21,000 towards a Central Nodule Unit, picnic tables for employees and guests; two Osteo Bone Density units at a cost of $17,000, $15,000 towards the helicopter pad, video imaging chair for the Radiology department, $5,500 for BP monitors, $5,000 for an EMS chair lift, $8,700 towards BiPap Vision equipment for Respiratory, $2,000 towards refurbishing the chapel, and $7,400 towards SimLab equipment. “The volunteers are an important part of our hospital family, and we commend their dedication and generosity,” said Walter Grace, administrator and CEO of BaptistUnion County. “Thanks to their support, we have been able to enhance the services to our patients and employees.” “These volunteers change the world because they have a passion to serve. Not only do the volunteers serve our hospital, but many also volunteer in various civic and community organizations. There are no worn out rockers sitting on their front porches, for they are compelled to stay busy. They are a tremendous asset to our facility,” said Dunson. For more information, contact Reba Dunson at 662-538-2101 or via email at reba.dunson@bmhcc.org.
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Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
New Albany Gazette NEW ALBANY GAZETTE
Baptist Auxiliary members are, front from left are Cadis Johnson, Ann Barkley, Shelia Robbins; back from left, Joyce Sumners, Bettye McMillen, Mary J Wynn, Lanell Hudson, Jean Speck, Virginia Knox, Isophene Owens, Ann Miller, Jane Goode, Corky Wood, Larry Miller and Reba Dunson. Not present were Bernice Bailey, Vivian Bennett, Dorothy Blackburn, Judy Collier, Hazel Foster, Mel Foster, Mary Helen Hale, Varnell Kimmons, Jane Sumrall, Bettye Thornton and Kathy Wood. UNION COUNTY HERITAGE MUSEUM
Right, a patient room at the Mayes Hospital, part of which was a converted home. Below is Nurse Alice Stewart.
New Albany Gazette
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Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
Freddie Stone was the ambulance driver in the 1940s, but had to pick up patients in the the funeral home’s hearse until real ambulances were available.
All photos UNION COUNTY HERITAGE MUSEUM
Dr. Pennebaker (No. 15) during surgical training in medical school 1938-40.
Early unidentified midwives.
The county’s first ambulance, a 1940 Packard.
A special room for a tuberculosis patient attached to a home near Blue Springs.
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Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
New Albany Gazette
BMH-Union County has experienced continuous pattern of growth
The hospital opened its doors in March 1966 as Union County General Hospital with a 65-bed capacity, three-story facility. R.B. Harrington was the first administrator of Union County General Hospital and served from 1966 until 1976. In 1971, the fourth floor was added, and a 1976 expansion included a new administrative area, laboratory department, and physical therapy department. In 1979, the fifth floor was opened and a new pharmacy and purchasing department was established. Further expansions in 1987 included a new dietary department and dining room, radiology department, physical therapy department. In 1989, Union County General Hospital became a part of the Baptist Health Care system in Memphis and the name was changed to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County. In 1992, the hospital completed a $13.7 million expansion
and renovation project that added 70,000 square feet. Included in the project were an 88-bed tower, new surgical suites and recovery area, expanded waiting area and lobby, and convenient patient loading area. The Emergency Department was also expanded in 1992 to seven treatment rooms including a trauma room and cardiac room. The Women’s Center, which opened in August 1992, was expanded in 2008 to include 10 labor/delivery/recovery suites and 28 post-partum rooms and also features a nursery, family waiting area and two delivery suites for Cesarean sections. In May 2010, Baptist Union County remodeled the newborn nursery’s 3,000 square feet to enhance the care and treatment of the newborns by giving hospital staff a better view of the babies and providing additional work space and physi-
cian diction stations. In July 2014, Baptist Union County opened a new $12 million emergency department addition featuring 20,000 square feet with 22 exam rooms, two trauma rooms, two triage rooms, and a 64-slice CT scanner for faster diagnoses. Today, Baptist Union County employs approximately 450 employees and offers state-of-the-art technology in diagnostic and surgical procedures including digital mammography, nuclear medicine, CT, MRI, ultrasound, stereotactic breast biopsy, laser surgery, rehabilitation, respiratory therapy, laboratory testing, outpatient surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, intensive care, and swing bed care. The outpatient rehabilitation and Baptist Healthplex complete the services with a 33,000 square feet facility located near the hospital campus. People from throughout the community can access
this facility for physical, speech, occupational, and aquatic therapy as well as aerobics, racquetball, cardiac training, swimming, and children’s fitness. One of the greatest strengths of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County is the access to highly-trained specialists and primary care physicians. Currently there are over 40 physicians on staff specializing in emergency medicine, family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine, geriatrics, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, otolaryngology, orthopedic surgery, urology, anesthesiology, pathology, radiology and hospitalists. The Multi-Specialty Clinic offers access to cardiology, neurology, podiatry, and oncology/hematology. Baptist Union County, the recipient of many awards and accolades, was most See BMH, p. 15
New Albany Gazette
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Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
Thank you for serving Union County
BMH-Union County has experienced continuous pattern of growth From BMH, p. 14
recently recognized as one of three hospitals in the nation to receive the 2015 QUEST® Award for High-Value HealthCare for providing outstanding patient care. In order to receive the award, the hospital must achieve top performance in all areas measured in Premier’s QUEST collaborative, including cost and efficiency; inpatient and outpatient evidence-based care; mortality; safety; patient experience; and appropriate hospital use. The hospital was also awarded the Outstanding Patient Experience Award by Healthgrades and was named a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America, in 2012 and 2013.
UNION COUNTY
Dr. E. E. Bramlitt
HERITAGE MUSEUM
Kelton McClinton, DMD and Jessica Perkins, DDS UNION COUNTY HERITAGE MUSEUM
Dr. David Ellis
UNION COUNTY HERITAGE MUSEUM
Dr. James Thornton
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Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
New Albany Gazette
New Baptist Emergency Department has 22 exam rooms Perhaps the most significant advancement for Baptist Memorial HospitalUnion County in recent years is the opening of its new emergency department. The facility, located behind the hospital and connected to its radiology department, features 22 exam rooms, two trauma rooms, two triage rooms, two isolation rooms, a de-contamination room and more. It officially opened its doors to serving the community at 6 a.m., July 21, 2014. Construction work on the $12 million facility began in June 2013 and was completed in July. Walter J. Grace, the hospital’s administrator and CEO, called the project a milestone for the hospital. “What our physician partners and what our colleagues strive for each day
is excellence as we provide care to those that are entrusted to us,” Grace said. “We focus on trying to earn the respect of the community each day and we recognize that in healthcare, it’s not what you did yesterday that’s important, it’s what you are doing at this very moment with the patient that is in front of you.” Grace said that the department’s construction is important because an increase in patients visiting the emergency room in recent years had placed a strain on the hospital. The average daily attendance in recent years has been 68 patients, he said, adding up to between 25,000 patients compared to 16,000 just three years ago. Unlike the hospital’s previous emergency room, when a patient enters the new department, a nurse at the front desk will immediately assesses the level of that person’s need. Less severe cases
will be taken to one of the front rooms and likely see a nurse practitioner. More serious cases are taken to the next level of rooms and seen by a physician, while the most serious cases are taken to a trauma room. All patients are taken to a room immediately rather than wait in the lobby. Admissions procedures are taken care of in the rooms. Patient rooms are ringed around a central oblong core with nurses’ stations at each end. A pharmacy is now located in the middle of the department, between the nurses’ stations. Two large rooms are designed for trauma cases but X-rays can be taken in any of the rooms without having to move the patient because carrier placement is built in and a reading station for the cassettes will be situated at the nurses’ station. In addition, a new five-bay ambu-
lance garage is near the new building, replacing former practice in which only two emergency vehicles could be parked inside and one under the ER canopy. The department does have some staff working 24-hour shifts and they will now have sleeping quarters and their own space, as well as there being better space for the physicians when not actively on duty. A new decontamination room is directly accessible from outside near the ambulance entrance, replacing a more improvised way it had to be done before. The new 64-slice CT scanner has a permanent home in the new ER, although the hospital’s other scanner will remain in the radiology department. The emergency department now has its own parking lot, with spaces for approximately 25 cars.
New Albany Gazette
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Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
Hospital promotes community wellness through Healthplex Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County has been taking steps to increase the general level of health and fitness in the community, with increasing focus of programs utilizing businesses and industries. Their primary tool for that is the Baptist Healthplex, which the healthcare organization has spent close to $500,000 on in the past six years for improvements. This past year, hospital representatives gave CEOs, human resource officers and elected officials on what some of those changes and improvements are at one of the Union County Development Association-sponsored business breakfasts. BMH Administrator and CEO Walter Grace introduced Heather Duley, who has been hired to manage the Healthplex. “She has been on the job about one month now and will do to an extent what Crystal McBrayer did before she left,” he said. “We did not fill that vacancy and now realize we should have kept it.”
In effect, Duley has two jobs: running the Healthplex but also being the contact person for any employer-employee health issues such as Workman’s Comp. “If you have issues with the hospital, Workman’s Comp, X-rays, doctors, et cetera, Heather will handle any operational issues,” he said. Concerning the Healthplex, Grace acknowledged that at one point the healthcare organization considered selling it. “It is a loss leader for us,” he confirmed. “But we won’t sell it. We feel it is a service to the community.” (In fact, Duley later said the Healthplex then had about 650 active members while Grace said the break-even point they are aiming for is 950.) Duley told the group, “I am married to a coach, I was a coach and I have a large family so fitness is very important to me.” She then went on to talk about some of the changes instituted over the past month.
Thank you for your 50 years of service.
“We have lowered the (membership) rates for individuals and added a family cap,” she said, and expanded hours for the nursery. “We want to be more family-oriented,” she added. Toward that end they have workout videos for two-year-olds, a Fit Kids program for those 6 to 12 and have added group exercise and workout classes, particularly times for members to come and swim, exercise or just play as a family. Not only are the membership fees lower, but they now include some features that formerly cost extra. In fact, now the only services at the Healthplex that require extra payment are massage therapy and having a personal trainer. Now, the basic individual membership fee is $35 per month and a family of three is $80. Fees are slightly higher on a shorter contract basis as contrasted with a year but the Healthplex also offers one-day passes for $10 each with a limit of 12 per year.
“That is a competitive rate compared to what others offer in the area,” Grace said, and he hopes membership will grow significantly. The facility offers a pool, walking track, sauna, basketball and racquetball courts, plus a variety of equipment. That includes cardiovascular (treadmills, stepmills, elliptical, rowers, bikes, more), Complete Strength Training Circuit by Cybex and free weights. Group exercises available include Spin Classes, Zumba, Tai Chi, Yoga, H.I.I.T. Classes, Run Strength, Boot Camp, Tavata, Body Sculpting, Step Aerobics and Water Aerobics. Fit Kid Classes, Weekly family hours and childcare are available, as is free tanning plus free fitness plan consultation. Duley said she hopes that those present would set an example for others to take adSee HEALTHPLEX, p. 18
Thanks for 50 years of caring for our community.
Union County Board of Supervisors Front Row (left to right): Chad Coffey, District 2, Jimmy Edwards, Union County Sheriff, Evan Denton, District 1, Randy Owen, District 4, Annette Hickey, Chancery Clerk, Back Row: Terry Johnson, County Administrator, Thad Mueller, Board Attorney, David Kitchens, District 3, Steve Watson, District 4
County Financial Information, County Roads and Bridge Information
109 E. Main Street New Albany, MS 38652 662-534-1900 OfÀce Hours: M-F; 8 am – 5 pm
Pictured left to right: Haley Kilcrease, Clerk, Elizabeth Skinner, Pharmacist, Jill Stephens, Pharmacist, Christy Kilcrease, OfÀce Manager Not pictured: Melanie Cox, Pharmacist and Laurin Reed, Pharmacy Tech
Hospital Pharmacy, Inc. 212 Hwy 30 W. • New Albany, MS 534-9036
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Hospital promotes community wellness through Healthplex From HEALTHPLEX, p. 17 vantage of what the Healthplex offers. “You are leaders in the community,” she said. “If you are healthy and fit, your employees are more likely to want to be.” “We feel like this is part of our mission,” Grace added. After talking about the Healthplex, Grace gave the group an update on other hospital plans and achievement. He noted the hospital was up 60 percent in clinical care and the new $12 million emergency department was doing particularly well. “It has exceeded our expectations,” he said. “We budgeted for an 18-percent increase but we have gotten from 20 to 5 percent.” Some days, the department sees 100plus visits and Grace expected 30,000 this year, “but it could be 40,000 to 45,000,” he said.
Some honors BMH has received over the past four years: Named one of the safest hospitals in the nation by Safe Care Group Given the highest possible score related to women’s health by Leapfrog Group Honored for work in reducing induced deliveries by the March of Dimes Recognized for SIDS awareness practices and education, also by the March of Dimes Rated as having exceptional outpatient services by HealthGrades Presented the Guardian of Excellence award in patient safety, physician relations and clinical quality by Press Ganey Named a top performer in clinical outcomes by The Joint Commission One of only three hospitals in the nation to meet CMS criteria to qualify as a center of excellence in patient care and service by The Premier Group Most recently, named the only hospital in the nation in calendar year 2015 to meet all CMS criteria by The Premier Group
Congratulations Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County on 50 years of service. 135 E. Bankhead St. P.O. Box 125 New Albany, MS 38652 534-4354
New Albany Gazette
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Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
Robot brings specialized care to newborns electronically The era of the TV show, “The Jetsons,” may still be five decades away but newborns in New Albany now have their own “Rosie” the robot maid to help take care of them. “Rosie’s” true name is InTouch Health Model RP-7i Robot and its actual purpose is to creative a diagnostic link between Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County and neo-natal specialists at North Mississippi Medical Center. The nickname “Rosie” comes from its similarity in appearance to the character in the popular 1960s cartoon. The remotely-controlled, remote-presence robot allows a doctor in Tupelo to examine infants almost as if he were in the room with them and then move through the hospital in New Albany to talk with parents, staff or access X-rays or other records. One might think of it as an iPad on steroids and on wheels. Before, if an infant needed immediate intensive treatment, doctors had to rely on discussing symptoms and treatment by
telephone, conveying their own impressions, or actually transporting the infant to another hospital, which could take time. Now, a doctor in Tupelo can be remotely examining an infant in minutes, even in seconds. BMH CEO Walter Grace says this is the “first neonatal telemedicine initiative between two non-affiliated hospitals in Mississippi.” He credited Ellen Friloux, administrator for women’s and children’s services at North Mississippi Medical Center, with making the arrangement happen. “Her diligent work is the reason we are able to accomplish this today,” he said at the Friday presentation of the robot. Friloux said, “It takes a lot of work from different folks, but we want to be the provider of choice to take care of women and babies this year.” The doctor on the New Albany end of the link has been Dr. Jim Googe, chairman of the pediatrics department and pediatri-
cian at New Albany Children’s Clinic. “Dr. Darling (Bryan Darling, neonatologist who controls the robot and assesses the infants) called some time ago and brought up the telemedicine program,” Googe said. He said his first thought was of the other old TV series, “Lost in Space,” where a robot would often run around flailing its arms saying “Danger, Will Robinson, danger!” The robot here does not do that, of course. Googe gave some background on the department since his arrival, the hospital’s getting full-time OB-GYN physicians and offering Level II neonatal care. “They were doing Level III intensive care nursing and had established a neonatal transport team in Tupelo. Before this, if we had a sick baby that needed that level of care, you were just stuck a little bit,” he said. Doctors here began transporting infants to Tupelo and developed a close relationship with them, Googe said, and this program was an eventual result.
“Now, they can do a close exam, listen to the heart, examine pupils, look at Xrays,” Googe said. And the Tupelo doctor can interact with the parents, providing information and answering questions. “Imagine a mom with a sick baby and an unexpected transfer where she doesn’t know the doctors or anyone,” he said. “It’s a very comforting thing for the mom.” Hospital officials did not give a purchase price for the robot, but instead said they are leasing it for $3,000 a month over three years. Googe said that BMH had more than 1,100 births this past year and Dr. Darling said about 10 percent of babies will need some sort of intensive care. That’s an average cost of a little more than $300 per infant for virtually immediate specialist consultation and treatment. The telemedicine technology solution is See ROBOT, p. 20
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Robot brings specialized care to newborns electronically From ROBOT, p. 19 provided by InTouch Health, the leader in providing solutions for high-quality applications where doctors are required to take immediate clinical action. While this is the first placement of an acute care telemedicine system in Mississippi, InTouch solutions are deployed at nearly 1,000 hospital locations on six continents and are now in use by 15 percent of all U.S. hospitals. Dr. Darling, who has been in practice in Tupelo about 18 years, gave an extensive demonstration of the robot at its introduction. Briefly, the robot stays in a charging dock until needed. Once Dr. Darling receives a call from the hospital, he can connect to the robot with a laptop computer and Wi-Fi. If necessary, he can use his phone as a hotspot so he is never out of touch. It takes only seconds to log in and begin moving the robot.
Dr. Darling can steer the robot and move the “head,” which contains a monitor and camera, independently, turning it to face anyone around him. About the only help he needs is in opening doors or pushing elevator buttons. He steers with a computer mouse. The robot has high quality video and sound, necessary to do a thorough virtual exam of an infant. It has a built-in stethoscope that Dr. Darling can listen to through noise-cancelling Bose headphones. “I can actually hear the stethoscope through the robot better than in person,” he said. There is also a phone handset so Dr. Darling can talk with staff or parents privately without the sound going out in the room, to be HIPPA compliant. The robot screen can show Dr. Darling and what he is seeing at the same time, but it also can show X-rays or other documents and he can even draw on the screen to highlight areas.
At first, Dr. Darling was the only neonatologist using the robot, wanting to get any bugs out before letting others use it. Also, technically, the neonatologists have to be certified with privileges at the hospital here, but he said that learning to use the robot is fairly simple. Some of the nurses said they were adjusting to the robot, but were still sometimes surprised to look up and see it in front of them. And since it has been in use, parents appear to see it as a benefit to them, both in treatment for the newborns and for easing the fears and answering the concerns of the parents. “This partnership will enhance the services we offer newborns, particularly those who need intensive care,” CEO Grace said. “Patients can now receive this service without leaving New Albany. The evaluation will come from physicians trained specifically to handle the most complex and high-risk situations in newborns.”
J. Lynn West/Gazette Staff
Chief nursing officer Randy White with Dr. Darling, appearing through the robot’s communications system.
Congratulations Baptist for 50 years! We would like to take just a moment to introduce ourselves, Home Care Hospice, with recent relocation into the Downtown New Albany, MS area. Our company began in 2002 servicing 33 counties throughout Mississippi with continued growth. We are privately owned and committed to enhance the patient’s quality of life and ease the deeply personal transition for the patient, family members, and loved ones. We are considered to be “ the little hospice with the BIG heart” throughout the community, providing care for individuals facing an end of life illness.
OfÀce 539-7339 Fax 539-7324 104 W. Bankhead St. New Albany, MS 8652 www.hchospice.com
Left to Right: Hope Stone, MSW, Craig Johnston, Admin., Mallory Bumpus, LPN, Angie Wooten, RN, Robin Smith, RN PCC, Heather Roberts, RN, Haley Holt, RN, Randy Hamilton, Chaplain.
New Albany Gazette
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Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
Hospital recruits three new physicians to add to staff Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County has welcomed three new physicians to its staff this past year. Two are obstetricians and gynecologists while the third is a surgeon. Two OB/GYNs were recruited because the facility handles enough live births annually to justify two more doctors in that field. Dr. Bill Johnson retired from obstetrics this past year but still handles gynecological cases. First is Dr. Robert E. Barnett who specializes in OB/GYN and has joined The Women’s Clinic of New Albany with Dr. David Williams. A Sedalia, Mo. native, Dr. Barnett has spent much of his career in the mid-west. Dr. Barnett seemed to always be headed toward medical school, getting an undergraduate degree from Washburn University of Topeka and then going on to the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo. His post-graduate residency was
at the Washington University Dept. of OB/ GYN and his internship at Barnes Hospital, also in St. Louis. His first practice was at the Women’s Health Center in Topeka after which he became a founding partner in Consultants in Fertility, Gynecology and Obstetrics, again in Topeka. “I went into OB/GYN because of the variety,” he said. “I’m a people person, and, beside, women make the best patients.” In 2004 he became medical director for the Center for Advanced Gynecology in Topeka and four years later was named senior advisor for Chuck Banks Associates. Prior to coming to New Albany, he was chief medical officer for the American Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery. He interrupted his practice for a time to care for his parents but now says “I was too young and too bored” and at about that time was referred here. “I met Dr. Williams in July and we hit it
off,” he said. “We have similar philosophies of practice and it is a great fit.” As his background might indicate, one of his primary niche skills relates to minimally invasive surgery. “Laparascopic procedures, such as hysterectomies, pelvic support, other surgery,” he said. Dr. Barnett mentioned, almost as an afterthought, that he had served as president of the Kansas state medical association and was selected as a delegate to the AMA representing the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists three different years. Concerning his personal life, Dr. Barnett has five children. His wife, Kim, works for the Department of Veterans Affairs. For more information, call or go by The Women’s Clinic of New Albany at 460 W. Bankhead, 534-4783. Dr. Leo Bautista comes from a family of doctors but he does the work because he enjoys helping people.
He is at Advanced Obstetrics and Gynecology with Dr. Eric Frohn, but he is originally from the Philippines. Bautista worked as a nurse for five years but, seeing the care given by his aunt, decided to go to medical school and become a doctor himself. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Texas but then attended medical school in the Cayman Islands at St. Matthews University. From there, he did his residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson but did his core rotation in Tupelo. He was in private practice for two years with a group in Tupelo and then the opportunity came up in New Albany when he learned Dr. Bill Johnson was retiring from obstetrics learned there would be a vacancy here. And people were already aware of Dr. Bautista after he delivered quadruplets for a See RECRUITS, p. 22
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Hospital recruits three new physicians to add to staff From RECRUITS, p. 21
Union County couple in 2013. Dr. Bautista has been living in Tupelo while in practice there but planed to move to New Albany with his wife and two daughters. His wife is a doctor also, having specialized in family practice after serving as a critical care nurse, but then curtailing that career to be a full-time mom. He said she may resume practice when the daughters are older. When not in the office or hospital, Bautista enjoys running, swimming, working out in the yard, spending time with his family and serving as a weekend cook. He attends St. James Catholic Church in Tupelo and volunteers at the Tree of Life and Good Samaritan, both free clinics. He specializes in high-risk obstetrics and gynecological surgery, which is welcomed here. He sees patients from the ages of pre-
puberty to geriatric. “I like the personal, intimate relationship with a patient,” he said, that a surgeon does not have. “It’s basically forever,” he added. His patients start as young people, move to middle age and then geriatric. The office of Advanced Obstetrics and Gynecology is at 236 Starlyn Ave. and the telephone number is 6620534-4121. Union County’s newest surgeon is from closer to home. Dr. Perrin Roten, who is in practice with Dr. H. F. Mason, grew up in Ripley. His father, Dr. Donald Roten, is a long-established dentist there and his son knows many local people from his college years. He practices general surgery, which includes soft tissues, abdominal, some chest and some breast surgery. “I like physically fixing things with my hands,” he said. “And I like aspects of saving people’s lives…we deal with vital organs.” Roten said he likes the skill sets exhibited
by plastic and vascular surgeons. “They are very meticulous. But I want to be involved in where people live and die,” he said. He got a full Northeast band scholarship, then went to Ole Miss two years and then to medical school in Jackson. Following completion of med school, Roten did five years’ residency, staying in Jackson. After his residency, Roten had a two-year commitment to the Air Force that saw him serve four years’ active duty in Nebraska at Offutt Air Force Base. During that time he was deployed to Afghanistan, performing surgery related to battle. At one point he had to perform brain surgery on a soldier because no one else was available. After service, the Rotens pulled their roots up and “blew west, like a tumbleweed,” he said. “I did a national jobs search with the Christian Medical Dental Association and found a Christian guy to work with in Great Falls, Montana.” The two had “a very big” private practice there serving a patient catchment area
about the size of Tupelo. “It was a Level II trauma center,” he added. After seven successful years in Montana, Dr. Roten decided he wanted to move home for the sake of family. Dr. Roten and his wife have four sons, ages 10, eight, six and three. “I had lots of hobbies – before the boys,” he said. He has been active in Southern Baptist church leadership, teaching and short-term missions. “I do like hunting, skiing, running and cooking and I play the guitar,” he said. His tastes run from folk and blues to Jimi Hendrix. Although his wife is mostly a stay-athome mom, she does have a master’s degree from Reform Theological Seminary in Jackson in marriage and family therapy. Dr. Roten’s office is at 500 W. Bankhead, with Dr. H. F. Mason and in association with Baptist Memorial Hospital, and staff are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon Friday. The telephone number is 534-7474.
New Albany Gazette
Baptist 50th Anniversary 2016
Congratulations Baptist on 50 years!
City of New Albany “The Fair and Friendly City”
Mayor Tim Kent and the Board of Aldermen P.O. Box 56 • 101 West Bankhead St. • New Albany, MS 38652 email: namayor@bellsouth.net
www.newalbany.ms
662-534-1010
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