Ashe Memorial Hospital 80th Anniversary

Ashe Memorial Hospital

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Ashe Memorial Hospital 80th Anniversary

We are here to keep you healthy.

That has always been our focus, and we will continue to fulfill our mission to provide the best possible care for the community we call home.

Like you, we are preparing for another New Year; but for us, in the midst of challenges and uncertainty, we’re also celebrating our past and those that helped shape who we’ve become.

Our story began 80 years ago when Dr. Dean Jones, Sr., the grandfather of Ashe Memorial Hospital general surgeon Dr. Charles Jones, saw his dream of a hospital in Ashe County come to fruition. A little more than a year after breaking ground in 1939, Ashe Memorial Hospital opened its doors to the community for patient care services on Nov. 1, 1941 with Dr. Dean Jones, Sr. serving as the hospital’s lone resident physician, surgeon and superintendent.

For the first 15 years that the hospital was open, Dr. Dean Jones, Sr. resided in the hospital with his wife, Lettie, and young son, Dean C. Jones, Jr., in a pair of patient rooms. In addition to running the emergency room, Dr. Dean Jones, Sr. handled all surgeries, served as a microbiologist and delivered all of the county’s babies, which included at least one a day for several years during World War II. Over the years, the hospital has experienced substantial growth and change; but through it all, we haven’t lost sight of what matters most – the ability to be there for our family, friends and neighbors when they need us the most.

Most recently, we’ve been tasked with navigating a global pandemic while at the same time expanding the technological scope of the care we provide. We’ve enacted protocols and invested in equipment, such as the Surfacide Helios UV-C Disinfection System, a hospital-grade UV solution that uses UV-C light energy to eliminate deadly pathogens on hard surfaces, and pathogen shoe sanitizers, to ensure the community, our patients and our team members are protected.

We’re fortunate to be able to serve this community, and as we celebrate our 80th anniversary, we can’t help but thank our over 350 team members who continually go above and beyond to provide high-quality care close to home. Without their hard work, dedication, resilience and willingness to deliver patient-centered, high-quality care, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

Inside these pages, you’ll learn a little more about some of the departments that make up Ashe Memorial Hospital, but we couldn’t do what we do for this community without ALL of our team members, including those who spend their time working hard behind the scenes, including our plant engineering, EVS, dietary, financial services, health information, employee health, human resources and scheduling departments, among others.

Thank you for allowing us to have served you for the past 80 years, and we look forward to what the future holds for all of us here at Ashe Memorial Hospital!

A Message from the CEO Brian Yates As we celebrate our 80th year at Ashe Memorial Hospital, I’d first like to thank each of our team members for their extraordinary efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenges of the last two years have reinforced our values of Caring, Safety, Integrity, Teamwork and Adaptability and why they are integral to achieving our Vision of being the nations’ premier community hospital.

Over the last two years, I’ve watched our team and physician partners sacrifice and routinely put others above themselves while maintaining tremendous resilience. It’s a pleasure to work alongside a group of dedicated team members who take great pride in

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Nov. 1, 1941 – Ashe County Memorial Hospital opens its doors to the community for patient care services.

Nov. 16, 1941 – Zola Blevins Jones gives birth to her daughter, Zola Sue Jones. The 8 pound, 5 ounce baby is the first baby born at Ashe Memorial Hospital.

1971 – A new modern three-story building is built and the hospital changes its name from Ashe County Memorial Hospital to Ashe Memorial Hospital.

November 1984 – The first mammography unit is installed.

1985 – A birthing room opens in the Obstetrics Department for those patients who received instruction in natural childbirth.

August 1991 – Nuclear medicine first becomes available.

November 1991 – The helipad is completed and first used by Mission Memorial Hospital in Asheville on November 26.

May 17, 1992 – A dedication and Open House is held for Ashe Memorial Hospital’s AMH Segraves Care Center.

1994 – The Ashe Memorial Hospital Foundation holds its first Frank M. James Memorial Golf Tournament.

July 2005 – The Wilma Vannoy Birthing Center officially opens.

2006 – Ashe Memorial Hospital is named National Rural Health Organization of the Year.

October 2006 – Ashe Memorial Hospital begins its hospitalist program.

2007 – Ashe Memorial Hospital is classified as critical access.

2007 – Mountain Family Care Center opens.

2016 – The $1.9 million renovation to Ashe Memorial Hospital’s emergency room is completed.

2018 – Ashe Memorial Hospital is named one of the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the United States.

May 2021 – Fleetwood Family Medicine opens.

November 1, 2021 – Ashe Memorial Hospital celebrates its 80th anniversary.

caring for our community.

For eighty years, Ashe Memorial Hospital has been committed to providing our patients, friends, family and colleagues with quality, personalized healthcare.

As a rural hospital, we have experienced tremendous changes in the delivery of healthcare services in recent years and change will be constant as we move forward. Our highest priority is continuing to focus on serving the healthcare needs of our community and positioning Ashe Memorial Hospital for success for generations to come. What we do makes a difference today and beyond.

We are a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3), hospital and all profits are reinvested in Ashe Memorial Hospital.

Even during the pandemic, Ashe Memorial Hospital has continued to upgrade our facility, equipment, departments and the services that we provide.

Whether you are experiencing an emergency, seeking recovery from an illness, in need of surgical services or improving your health through preventative screening and exercise; Ashe Memorial Hospital offers services to meet your needs. You will find the breadth of healthcare services offered locally will provide you and your family the option of receiving your healthcare close to home from physicians and team members that you can trust.

Ashe Memorial Hospital is YOUR community hospital, and we look forward to continuing to serve your healthcare needs. I encourage you to review our 80th Anniversary Special Section and familiarize yourself with our remarkable team and the highquality services that we proudly provide to the citizens of this great county.

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Ashe Memorial Hospital 80th Anniversary

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Chief Nursing Officer’s Report

Two AMH nurses named 2021 Great 100 Nurses

Ashe Memorial Hospital strives to meet the needs of the community while employing dignity, respect, courtesy and compassion. As the hospital celebrates 80 years of patient-centered, high-quality care, we can’t help but look to our nurses who routinely display these qualities in the care they provide for our community.

We are fortunate to have some of the best nurses in the state working here at Ashe Memorial Hospital. This year, we celebrated with two of our nurses who won the distinguished Great 100 Nurses Award. One hundred nurses across North Carolina were recognized as Great 100 award winners with Emergency Department nurse Kina Jones and Surgical Day Care nurse Kelly Sheets becoming Ashe Memorial Hospital’s first Great 100 award recipients.

In addition to the Great 100, we honored our first Daisy Award winner. Sheila Holman was nominated by a former patient for her outstanding care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Daisy Award is an international nurse recognition program that honors nurses who go the extra mile to provide exceptional patient care.

At Ashe Memorial Hospital, quality care is a continued focus.

We are proud to share that our scores speak for themselves.

Ashe Memorial Hospital excels in HCAHPS and year to date is at or above the state median in eight domains, including nurse communication, responsiveness of staff and care transitions, among others.

The future of nursing is bright at Ashe Memorial Hospital. We are pleased to be able to partner with local nursing schools to prepare our future nurses. Through hands on experience and shared knowledge, our nursing team is paying it forward. Not only are our nurses helping others grow, but these experiences have also created valuable learning opportunities, including learning new equipment and participating in formalized classes that focus on caring for the pregnant mom and newborn infant.

During the past year in dealing with COVID, our nursing team has and continues to demonstrate excellent care in all areas, from the emergency room, to the monitored bed unit, medical surgical floor and labor and delivery, to surgical services and all of our outpatient services. We take our commitment to caring for others seriously, and we work hard to be that smiling face on the other end when caring for friends, family, neighbors and our community.

Ashe Memorial Hospital takes great pride in providing patientcentered, high quality care and that begins with our nurses.

While they may not fully know what is going to come through the door on any given day, their commitment to their patients and this community is unwavering.

This year, we are fortunate to have had two nurses, Emergency Department nurse Kina Jones and Surgical Day Care nurse Kelly Sheets, named 2021 Great 100 Nurses.

The Great 100 recognizes and honors registered nurses in North Carolina for their commitment to excellence and promoting a positive image of the nursing profession. Jones and Sheets are the first nurses to have been honored from Ashe Memorial Hospital and are the only two nurses from our region to have been selected for this year’s honor.

“The Great 100 is a prestigious honor, and we are thrilled to have two of our nurses recognized for this award,” said Brian Yates, chief executive officer for Ashe Memorial Hospital. “Kina Jones and Kelly Sheets are exemplary nurses who consistently go above and beyond for their patients, colleagues and our community. We are grateful for all that they continue to do for AMH and hope you will join us in congratulating them on their well-deserved honor.”

Nurses are nominated by the hospital and chosen for the Great 100 based on several criteria, including their integrity, commitment to their patients and colleagues, contributions to the nursing profession and mentorship of others. This special recognition is only given to 100 nurses throughout the state each year.

“We are proud to have two very deserving nurses receive this honor at AMH,” said JoAnn Smith, chief nursing officer for Ashe Memorial Hospital. “Kina and Kelly are both role models for others either seeking to enter the nursing profession or for those who are currently working as nurses. We celebrate with Kina and Kelly their accomplishments and this award.”

Often described as the face and reputation of Ashe Memorial Hospital, Jones has been a valued member of the emergency department since 1979. During her time at Ashe Memorial Hospital, the Ashe County native has never missed a shift and continually sets a positive example for others to follow.

“To be nominated by the hospital and those you work with daily means something very special,” Jones said. “I am blessed to work with a great staff that works each day to provide excellent care to our patients. Working as a team makes all

JoAnn Smith

the difference in the care the patients receive and provides an environment which encourages staff to want to work at Ashe Memorial.

“I have worked here for 42 years and to say that means that I have loved what I do,” Jones added. “I take joy in seeing staff grow and becoming the best they can be. I think we are blessed to still strive to provide a family atmosphere for the community. I have not seen this at many other facilities.”

Jones holds ASLS, PALS, ACLS and trauma nurse curriculum course advanced education, which she uses not only to provide best-practice care but also to aid and support team members in their professional growth. In addition to her role as an emergency department nurse, Jones is also a member of the nurse leadership council, volunteers at Ashe County High School and AppHealthCare and serves as a mentor for incoming nurses.

Sheets has been a valued member of the AMH team for 28 years. A self-described hands-on care nurse, it’s not uncommon for Sheets to spend time talking with her patients about their health goals, and while nursing them through their procedures, providing education as well.

“Of all the millions of wonderful nurses out there, that do far more than me, I was totally shocked,” Sheets said of receiving the honor. “ALL nurses work so very hard and put so much of themselves, their time, energy, and Love into what they do, which makes me feel so undeserving. However, I am grateful and feel so blessed for this recognition from my fellow peers.

“This honor means a lot to me because nurses, so much of the time, are the unseen heroes that go unrecognized,” Sheets added. “This blesses my heart to know that someone thought enough of me and my work to acknowledge our profession as a whole and the hard work that we do.”

In her role, Sheets, who holds certifications in PALS and ACLS and previously held ONS and EMT certifications, is continually learning new ways to help grow her department and further educate her team members. She also is cross-trained in the imaging department and can often be found assisting other team members in different departments.

In addition, Sheets serves on the Nursing Shared Governance Committee to assist with the development and advancement of nursing within the hospital and also serves as a clinical site instructor for new nursing students in both ADN and BSN programs.

Affiliated with

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Ashe Memorial Hospital 80th Anniversary

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

It takes a special type of person to be a nurse; and over the past 18 months, Hillrom Centrella Smart+ Beds, which were installed in June 2021 and are our nursing team has been challenged like never before. They hold the hands designed to improve patients’ safety and satisfaction, and recliners for family of patients and comfort their families from afar. They continue to treat every members to stay with their loved ones during their hospital stay. A new nurse patient that walks through our doors as if he or she was a member of their own call light system also is being installed throughout the floor and is expected to family. Day in and day out, they never stop caring.

be in place sometime during the first quarter of 2022.

In those cases where hospitalization is required, our Medical/Surgical floor,

We believe in caring for the whole person. Each patient is unique and requires

located on the second floor of the hospital, provides nursing care for patients different kinds of care. Our Medical/Surgical nursing team, which consists of of all ages, ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics, recovering from surgery, injury

registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants and

or medical illness. unit secretaries, is committed to creating and implementing an individualized The Medical/Surgical plan of care for each patient based on his or her needs. Some of the most floor is able to care common diagnoses on the second floor include: congestive heart failure, chest for 23 patients with pain, abdominal pain, pulmonary disease and surgical cases, among others.

At Ashe Memorial Hospital, we strive to meet the needs of the community by delivering patientcentered, high-quality healthcare each and every day. Our concern for the well-being of our patients is evident throughout our Monitored Bed Unit (MBU).

The MBU provides care for patients recovering from surgery, injury or critical illness who require more focused nursing care. Those who are admitted to the MBU typically have an acute or chronic illness that has progressed beyond the level of care that is manageable on the Medical/Surgical floor.

Located on the third floor, the MBU has four rooms, which are newly equipped with Hillrom Centrella

17 private rooms and

The Medical/Surgical nursing staff works alongside hospitalists, surgical care

three

semi-private

services, rehabilitation services, care management and our registered dietician

rooms. Each room is

to ensure the patient’s needs are met and they are receiving the compassionate

newly equipped with

care they deserve.

Smart+ Beds designed to improve patients’ safety and satisfaction. Each room can be seen from the nurses’ station, allowing our dedicated nursing team to be able to closely monitor each patient’s progress.

Our MBU nursing team is comprised of four highly trained registered nurses, three certified nursing assistants and others who fill in as needed, who are available to care for their patients 24 hours a day.

The locked unit is equipped with central monitoring, which enables the staff to continuously monitor the patient even when not present in the room. We are committed to providing the best possible care for our patients and their families when they need it most.

GENERAL SURGERY - ENDOSCOPY Congratulations Ashe Memorial Hospital on 80 Years of Care for the Community!

Charles Jones, MD, PA Sebrina Phillips, NP-C

200 Hospital Ave., Suite 5 | Jefferson, NC Call for an appointment M-F 8:00am-5:00pm

336-246-7779

Charles W. Jones, MD, PA

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Ashe Memorial Hospital 80th Anniversary

The Wilma Vannoy Birthing Center at Ashe Memorial Hospital The Perfect Place to Welcome Your Baby The Wilma Vannoy Birthing Center is designed to make you feel at home while providing quality care that focuses on the family dynamic before, during and after labor. Our unit is equipped with all of the necessary equipment and technology to ensure a smooth and healthy delivery for mom and baby.

The birthing center has three rooms where you will be able to labor, deliver and recover. It is our goal for you to be able to stay in this room for your entire hospital stay; however, on rare occasions you may be asked to move to a room just outside the unit if there have been several deliveries.

The unit provides care during pregnancy, labor, delivery and postpartum, as well as, newborn care.

Our team of compassionate labor and delivery nurses will be alongside you every step of the way to ensure that your needs are met and your birthing experience goes smoothly.

The birthing center is a locked unit to ensure the safety of your newborn and is equipped with central fetal monitoring systems, which allows staff to be able to monitor both you and your baby even if not present in your room.

Additional features of the birthing center include: • Private suites complete with TV, pull-out bed, rocking chair and bathroom with a shower • Ability for newborns to remain in the room

with the mother at all times • Fetal monitoring systems that can be viewed at the nursing station and on the physicians’ private computers.

• Hearing screen and Critical Congenital Heart Defect pulse oximetry for newborns prior to discharge Ashe Memorial Hospital also has been designated a Three-Star Breastfeeding-Friendly hospital through the NC Maternity Center Breastfeeding-Friendly Designation initiative, which was created to recognize those maternity centers that have taken the appropriate steps to promote, protect and support breastfeeding throughout their organization. At Ashe Memorial Hospital, we are committed to educating expectant parents on the topics of childbirth and breastfeeding.

Our goal is to deliver quality care while providing a safe environment to meet the needs of all of our patients. We recognize that each pregnancy is unique, so we are now offering both obstetrical and midwifery services. As you prepare to welcome your new addition, we are here to help answer any questions you might have prior to the arrival of your newborn baby. For more information on our pregnancy services, please call Mount Jefferson Family Medicine at 336-846-7433.

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A single cry was all it took to change Jessica Rupard’s life.

Rupard was observing a C-section as an intern at Ashe Memorial Hospital when she witnessed the miracle of life for the first time. The then high school senior hadn’t spent a lot of time contemplating the birthing process, but that lone experience had a profound impact on Rupard’s vision for her future.

“One minute the baby is inside Mama and the next minute it’s out in the world,” Rupard said. “It was breathtaking. It was an amazing experience seeing new life brought into the world, and that experience sent me on the path toward wanting to be a nurse.”

After spending seven years as a labor and delivery nurse for Ashe Memorial Hospital, Rupard joined the Mount Jefferson Family Medicine team as a certified nurse midwife in June 2021.

In her role, Rupard focuses on all aspects of primary women’s healthcare services, ranging from gynecology, family planning and infertility to obstetrical and prenatal care, delivery and initial newborn care, among other aspects. Additionally, Rupard also is able to offer lactation support and will soon be working toward her International Board Certified Lactation Consultant credential.

Rupard can do everything a doctor can do at birth with the exception of a C-section; however, Dr. Melinda Wonsick and Dr. Tara Burgher will be available in the event a C-section is needed.

“I’m excited to be transitioning into the CNM role in the same department that helped me learn and grow as a labor and delivery nurse,” Rupard said.

A native of Ashe County, Rupard attended East Tennessee State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing. It was during her clinical rotation that Rupard initially learned about midwifery.

After starting out as a labor and delivery nurse at Ashe Memorial Hospital, Rupard began to feel like she could do more. In 2018, Rupard enrolled at Frontier Nursing University in Kentucky to pursue her master’s degree in nursing midwifery.

Midwives tend to treat pregnancy care and birth as a natural process rather than a condition that needs to be treated. In doing so, midwives are more often involved in those pregnancies that don’t have a lot of complications.

However, natural doesn’t mean patients can’t still request an epidural or pain medicine.

“I love attending births all the way down to general well-woman care and trying to keep women healthy,” Rupard said. “Generally, if you have a healthy Mom then you usually have a healthy family. There’s a huge need for women here to have options when it comes to the birthing process. A lot of women go to Boone for midwife care, and I felt like women in this county need this type of care closer to home.”

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Ashe Memorial Hospital 80th Anniversary

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Ashe Memorial Hospital is proud to be able to offer the medical procedures and surgeries you need in a comfortable setting close to home.

Our commitment to providing the best possible care is evident across our Surgical Services Department, which is staffed with board-certified surgeons and nurses who are trained to care for patients before, during and after surgery. Ashe Memorial Hospital’s Surgical Services Department includes: Surgical Day Care/Outpatient Surgery, the Operating Room, Anesthesia and Central Sterile Supply. All of our surgical team members are certified in advanced life support, neonatal advanced life support, pediatric advanced life support, advanced cardiovascular life support and CPR. “We are a great group of people who love to care for our community’s surgical needs,” said operating room manager Michelle Carpenter.

At Ashe Memorial Hospital, we offer endoscopic (EGD and colonoscopy) and other medical procedures as well as general and ophthalmic surgical services and emergency surgery, and all of our surgeries are conducted in our state-of-the-art operating suites. Prior to surgery, our team of highly skilled Surgical Day Care nurses will provide preoperative teaching to patients to educate them on the procedure, what to expect and how to prepare for surgery. In the event anesthesia is necessary, our team of anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists will speak with you before your procedure about the different options available to you to help manage your pain and what you can expect throughout the procedure.

The Ashe Memorial Hospital Cardiopulmonary Department offers life-saving support with its latest technology, as well as a wide array of services for both our inpatients and outpatients, including assessments and treatment plans, among others.

We provide diagnostic testing for heart and lung issues while working closely with our providers to ensure that our community receives the best, quality healthcare right here in their hometown.

Our department has 14 highly-trained therapists licensed by the state of North Carolina who have met the national standards to practice Respiratory Care. Our respiratory therapists are ready when you need us. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the year.

“From emergency asthma to helping a newborn take its first breath, we believe that we should never take a single breath for granted,” said Shannon Upchurch, director of cardiopulmonary for Ashe Memorial Hospital.

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Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Ashe Memorial Hospital 80th Anniversary

At Ashe Memorial Hospital, we are fortunate to have a dedicated group of certified therapists and rehabilitation specialists who strive to help you achieve your personal mobility goals.

We offer both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, pulmonary rehabilitation, aquatic therapy and speech therapy. If you are a patient in the hospital and rehab is necessary to help you, you will be visited by one of our therapists before you are discharged.

Even if you are not a patient in the hospital, call and make an appointment. There is no referral needed to receive our rehabilitation services.

Your rehabilitation journey begins with a personal one-on-one evaluation to determine your individual needs. Our therapists will then provide you with a custom rehabilitation program tailored for your current condition and designed to meet your goals and aspirations.

“I am very proud of our team of experienced professionals in the Rehabilitation Services department here at Ashe Memorial,” said Dustin Absher, director of Rehabilitation Services for Ashe Memorial Hospital.

“The care provided by our therapists is truly second to none, and it is a pleasure getting to work with individuals who are passionate about their field and want to help each patient achieve their personal goals. We have a unique atmosphere that balances encouraging energy with a small-town community feel that helps make patients feel comfortable, no matter their background or ailment.”

PHYSICAL THERAPY Is your pain keeping you from living your best life? Whether you are sidelined with an injury or struggling with chronic pain, our therapists are here for you. With eight physical therapists and a physical therapy assistant on staff, we have the necessary

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personnel to help you regain function and movement. Our therapists offer a wide variety of physical therapy services, including pelvic floor, lymphedema, neurological, such as stroke and Parkinson’s, gait and balance dysfunction, sports rehabilitation and general orthopedic care.

CARDIAC REHABILITATION If you’ve suffered a cardiac event and are looking to regain control of your heart health, Ashe Memorial Hospital is here to help. Through our 12-week outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program, our clinical exercise physiologist, Marc Boston, will provide patients with an exercise prescription tailored to meet their own individual needs and limitations with the goal of lowering their risk of a future cardiac event. The program, which combines cardiac and pulmonary patients, is available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Illness and injury can happen to anyone at any time, hindering one’s ability to complete the most basic tasks. In those instances, occupational therapy can be incorporated into the rehabilitation process to help patients achieve their goals whether it’s getting out of bed, getting dressed or even picking up a golf club again.

If you have any questions or would like more information regarding our rehabilitation services, you can contact a rehabilitation specialist at 336-846-0833.

Ashe Memorial Hospital is pleased to be home to Mountain Hearts Wellness Center, which is committed to helping the community live an active lifestyle.

The fitness center is open to the public and offers an indoor pool and a variety of aerobic and strength training equipment, including Nautilus weight machines, seated elliptical machines, rowing machines and treadmills, to help you achieve your fitness goals. Mountain Hearts also offers a variety of fitness classes, including water aerobics, arthritis pool, silver sneakers and Tai Chi classes, as well as some swimming lessons, with several of the classes offered on a pay-per class basis.

“We pretty much have something for everyone, but the pool is the biggest thing that separates us from other facilities,” Mountain Hearts exercise specialist Adam Widner said. “It’s important to exercise, but you should do it because it makes you feel good and not worry so much about losing weight.”

Mountain Hearts is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday; and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday. Single, adult with a spouse and family memberships are available on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis.

Gym, aquatics and full memberships are available. Mountain Hearts also offers single day guest passes.

For additional information, including hours of operation, complete class listings or to schedule a pool time, call 336-846-0744.

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Ashe Memorial Hospital 80th Anniversary

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

High-Quality Cancer Care from the Comfort of Your Community Hospital

A

t Ashe Oncology and Hematology, we understand the uncertainty that comes with cancer, and our board-certified oncologists and certified nurses work together to deliver accurate diagnoses and world-class treatment so you and your loved ones can take comfort in knowing you are receiving the best care available.

Our providers, Dr. Flint Gray and family nurse practitioner Cathy Clark have nearly 40 years of combined experience and are committed to providing the highest quality care for their patients.

“We try to bring standard oncology services

Board-certified oncologists to oversee your care Certified nurses to provide care and support throughout your treatment Chemotherapy services close to home

close to home, so patients don’t have to travel,” Dr. Gray said. “We’re a smaller clinic, which allows for more personalization. Our patients are able to get to know their providers and can be seen more frequently. We try to make sure every patient gets the same level of care.”

Dr. Gray joined the Ashe Memorial Hospital team in 2003 after recognizing that there were no oncology services available in Ashe County.

Dr. Gray and Clark both provide diagnoses, make referrals for surgery and radiation and prescribe medicines and other treatments, including

chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy and targeted therapy, among others.

“As providers, we’re caring not just for the patient but for the patient’s family too,” Clark said. “When you get to know a patient, you also get to know the family and what the needs in the family are and hopefully help them address the stress they might be having as well.”

Our providers also work collaboratively with larger medical facilities across the state, including the Novant Health Cancer Institute at Forsyth Medical Center.

A diagnosis of cancer is life changing, not just for the patient but for that patient’s loved ones.

MAKING LIFE BETTER ONE PATIENT AT A TIME In addition to providing chemotherapy, the Jo Anne Poe Cancer Center is a full-service infusion center, providing infusion therapy to anyone that’s not infectious.

• IV Infusions • IV Antibiotics • Blood Transfusions

• Blood Draws • Port Flushes • PICC Line Dressing Changes

Ashe Oncology and Hematology continues to accept new patients. Clinic days are on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call 336-846-0826.

We appreciate your care for our community over the past 80 years!

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Ashe Memorial Hospital 80th Anniversary

In keeping with our mission to provide patient-centered, high-quality care, Ashe Memorial Hospital is pleased to offer some of the most advanced imaging services available.

Led by a team of talented technologists, Ashe Memorial Hospital offers a wide variety of imaging services, including CT, MRI, general radiology, mammography, ultrasound, bone density (DEXA), nuclear medicine and echocardiography, and is an accredited mammography and MRI facility.

“The accreditation process is the gold standard in medical imaging,” said Amy Kleiber, director of imaging for Ashe Memorial Hospital. “If you meet the criteria, it means you’ve taken the extra steps to provide the safest and best quality of care.”

Over the past year, we’ve further enhanced the scope of our imaging department with the installation of four new innovative pieces of equipment, including a new state-of-the-art GE 128 Revolution Maxima CT Scanner. With this cutting-edge diagnostic equipment, we can help providers quickly assess your medical issues and begin treatment promptly.

The new high performance CT scanner can generate 128 highresolution images in 0.7 seconds, resulting in shorter scan times while using a personalized, low patient radiation dose approach.

With the new technology, our imaging team can conduct a variety of further enhanced scans and procedures, including cardiac calcium scoring, low-dose lung screenings and spinal injections for pain management, among others. The new technology also uses AI-based Auto Positioning, resulting in a hands-free positioning experience, and elevating the quality standard of every exam.

“We’re excited to be able bring this state-of-the-art imaging equipment to Ashe Memorial Hospital and further enhance our imaging department,” Kleiber said. “By having these cutting-edge processes and procedures available right here, our patients won’t have to travel outside of their community to get their medical care.”

In addition to our new scanner, we’ve also purchased new digital X-ray equipment, a GE Logic 10 ultrasound and a portable X-ray.

With the wireless X-ray equipment, technologists are able to get to the patient a lot easier, resulting in decreased wait times and allowing the patient to receive further treatment as soon as possible.

Most recently, our Imaging department began conducting lung cancer screenings with low-dose CT in the hope of helping providers identify and treat those patients most at risk for developing lung cancer.

For more information on Ashe Memorial Hospital’s imaging services, please call 336-846-0722 or visit ashememorial.org.

Though we spend less time with our patients than doctors and nurses, Ashe Memorial Hospital’s Laboratory staff is just as dedicated to our patients’ health.

As vital members of the healthcare team, the Laboratory staff works quickly and carefully to give accurate information to the providers. We operate complex electronic equipment, computers and precision instruments. Our team members, which include pathologists, technologists, technicians and phlebotomists, have the necessary education, training and skills to keep Ashe Memorial Hospital at the top by utilizing the most advanced technology for services offered. The Laboratory operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so our patients’ health concerns can be addressed quickly.

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We may never know who is going to walk through the door of the emergency department, but our response to each patient is always the same: to provide the highest level of care possible. Our friendly, professional emergency department team continuously goes above and beyond to ensure the needs of every patient are met. Their commitment to their patients and this community is unwavering.

As the longest tenured nurse at Ashe Memorial Hospital, certified emergency department nurse Kina Jones has seen a lot throughout her 42-year career and has gotten use to many different circumstances, but there are still times when a patient will come in with an unknown illness that requires Jones to investigate further.

“I like the ED because it’s different,” Jones said. “You never know what’s coming in. It’s not monotonous, and you get to learn something new each day. You have to have a passion for it because it takes a certain mentality to be an emergency room nurse. You have to be happy with what you’re doing and open to change.”

An Ashe County native, Jones got her first glimpse into the emergency department while working the registration desk over the summer in high school.

After attending nursing school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Jones returned to her hometown hospital where she became Ashe Memorial Hospital’s first registered nurse in the emergency department.

Since then, Jones has seen the emergency department grow and develop as technology has evolved.

“It’s like night and day,” Jones said.

If you have an injury or illness that needs immediate attention, the emergency department at Ashe Memorial Hospital is here for you. When you arrive, you will be greeted by a receptionist who will gather some basic information and let our medical team know the reason for your visit. You will then be evaluated by a triage nurse and assigned an acuity grade, based on the level of emergency, to determine the level of care that you need. We have doctors trained in emergency medicine, as well as surgeons, radiologists and anesthesiologists ready to serve you 24 hours a day.

The emergency department at Ashe Memorial Hospital is equipped to treat patients of all ages. Some of the routine medical emergencies that we typically see include: strokes, heart attacks, abdominal complaints, trouble breathing and injuries from falls or accidents.

While our goal is to keep wait times to a minimum, please understand your wait will depend on the urgency of your emergency, the number of other patients waiting to be seen and the availability of our health care providers. Those emergencies that tend to be considered urgent emergencies include: chest pain, severe abdominal pain, severe laceration, breathing problems and any condition that could be considered life or death, among others.

As a critical access hospital in a rural community, it’s not uncommon for our emergency department team to have to treat their own neighbors, friends and family. While every emergency situation is different, our goal is to provide you with the best possible care, so you can return home safely.

“Our patients like to be able to see a familiar face,” Jones said. “I enjoy being able to help people through the hard times, and you hope that you’re able to make them feel better.”

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When you receive medications as an inpatient at Ashe Memorial Hospital, our nurses and pharmacy team use technologically advanced computer equipment to ensure you are getting the right medication and in the right dosage.

Your hospital bracelet is scanned each time you take your medicine, which helps track what has been administered and guards against drug overdoses and dangerous interactions.

Ashe Memorial Hospital has two full-time pharmacists and two part-time pharmacists as well as three fulltime technicians and one part-time technician.

In addition to inpatient pharmacy services, the department also does employee prescriptions and chemotherapy services.

The pharmacists perform all dosing adjustments needed for medications due to renal dysfunction. They also do antibiotic stewardship, considered part of infectious disease management, and inpatient medication discharge counseling.

Ashe Memorial Hospital also serves as a clinical rotation site for both Campbell University and High Point University Schools of Pharmacy.

The Ashe Memorial Hospital Police Department is made up of law enforcement officers (certified by the North Carolina Department of Justice) and security guards that assist the staff, patients and visitors in a variety of ways.

First and foremost, we maintain a safe and secure environment for everyone that comes to the campus through personal interaction with our regular rounding, monitoring of our surveillance cameras and assessing safety and security issues that may arise from time to time. We are also known to help get needed supplies for departments after hours, assist in cleaning stretchers, and even jump start car batteries when someone is stranded in the parking lot.

The department is currently comprised of nine employees who bring 200 accumulative years of training and experience from a variety of law enforcement agencies. Ashe Memorial Hospital’s Police Department is led by Police Chief Rick Swain, who also serves as the hospital’s safety director.

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Patient Experience-HCAHPS

Although the coronavirus pandemic has brought many challenges over the last 18 months, Ashe Memorial Hospital team members continue to make the patient experience a priority. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated their website Care Compare in October of 2021. This site provides a “single userfriendly interface that patients and caregivers can use to make informed decisions about healthcare cost, quality of care, volume of services, and other data” (CMS.gov).

In this latest release, Ashe Memorial Hospital continues to shine in the high country market leading the way in the following categories: • Nurse Communication • Responsiveness of Staff • Cleanliness of Environment • Quietness of Environment • Care Transitions • Hospital rating of 9 or 10.

We are pleased that the Ashe Memorial team also continues to maintain a 4 STAR overall rating as well. Although when it comes to patient care, nothing speaks to quality more than a patient’s own words.

“I would like to say that my stay at Ashe Memorial Hospital was epitomized by high quality healthcare from the nurses and the doctors in the ER, all the way through to my surgeon,” one patient said. “Everybody did a GREAT job!! They paid attention to my needs and explained what was going on the whole time. It was remarkably better than I could have hoped for.”

We are fortunate to be able to be here for you in your time of need, and we try to treat each patient that comes through the hospital with the same level of care and respect that we would want for any of our own neighbors, friends or family members.

Swain moved to Ashe County 15 years ago after having previously worked for the Shelby County Sheriff ’s Office’s Fugitive Division on a US Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force in Memphis, Tenn.

“A job opportunity came available for my wife and after much soul-searching we moved to Ashe County in 2006,” Swain said. “I was fortunate that there were a couple of openings for police officers at the time I was looking for employment.”

In addition to creating a safe environment for Ashe Memorial Hospital’s patients, team members and the community, the Ashe Memorial Hospital Police Department also participates in community events, including Christmas with Cops, a project designed to help spread a little holiday cheer to some of our local children, and the recent ROOFTOP COPS event designed to raise awareness for pediatric cancer.

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Mount Jefferson Family Medicine offers primary care for your entire family The daughter of a Lutheran minister and a former high school guidance counselor, Dr. Melinda Wonsick discovered very early on the importance of helping those in need.

Now years later, the Ohio native is helping define the role of family medicine providers here in Ashe County. Dr. Wonsick provides full-spectrum care for patients of all ages, including obstetrics, as a physician for Mount Jefferson Family Medicine.

At Mount Jefferson Family Medicine, Dr. Wonsick and her team take pride in being able to provide care for the entire family — a service her patients truly appreciate. From pregnancy-related ultrasounds and well child check-ups to primary care and preventive healthcare services, Mount Jefferson Family Medicine offers a wide variety of high-quality services to meet the needs of the community.

“I enjoy building relationships, taking care of families and working as a team at our office to help patients improve their quality of life,” Dr. Wonsick said.

Mount Jefferson Family Medicine is home to seven providers, including four physicians, two nurse practitioners, a physician assistant and a certified nurse midwife, who offer primary care services to patients of all ages, as well as care for common and complex conditions.

“Dr. Wonisck and I have extra training to take care of many of your healthcare needs,” Dr. Tara Burgher said. “This allows us to develop relationships and truly

understand what a patient needs or wants. With that said, Mount Jefferson Family Medicine offers a warm atmosphere with friendly caring people from check in to check out. I think this is why people keep coming back.”

Our providers believe in the importance of working together to provide evidence-based, highquality healthcare. At Mount Jefferson Family Medicine, we make it a point to include you in the decision making process to ensure that your family’s medical needs are met. We take responsibility for your family’s ongoing care needs from pregnancy to caring for your infant, child or adolescent, and caring for you as an adult and into your later years. We are truly your medical home for all ages.

Mount Jefferson Family Medicine is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (336) 846-7433.

Ashe County has always been a place to call It’s where Katie Miller discovered her desire to become a nurse.

It’s where she met her high school sweetheart and would one day start a family of her own.

It’s where she met her mentor and learned the fulfillment that comes from positive outcomes and helping others achieve success.

And it’s the place where a friendly smile and a comforting hand go a long way to shaping who you become.

Now Miller is returning the favor by helping care for those who supported her in the same community she immersed herself in growing up.

We take comfort in familiarity, and for Miller that’s right here in her hometown.

“I have patients who will say to me ‘It’s so hard to think of you as my provider,’” Miller said. “For me, it’s nice to know them on that level. A lot of people might think it’s a bad thing, but I think it helps patients develop that trust because I’m not an outsider. I think it’s a positive.”

After spending three years working at Mount Jefferson Family Medicine as a certified family nurse practitioner, Miller transitioned over to Fleetwood Family Medicine.

Fleetwood Family Medicine, Ashe Memorial Hospital’s newest primary care clinic, opened in May 2021, providing, rural residents of surrounding communities access to appropriate healthcare in a timely manner.

”Rural residents often encounter barriers to healthcare that limit their ability to obtain the care they need,” James Lambert, Vice President of Professional and Support Services for Ashe Memorial Hospital, said. “I’m excited that Fleetwood Family Medicine will create access to primary care for the residents of surrounding communities; and those patients will have necessary and appropriate healthcare in a timely manner.”

Conveniently located at 13300-12290 U.S. Highway 221 S in Fleetwood, Fleetwood Family Medicine offers accessible, high-quality healthcare for all ages, ranging from infant care to adult family medicine. The new clinic, which has three exam rooms for patients, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and accepts most major insurance plans.

Miller works alongside her patients to ensure their and their family’s needs are met.

The new clinic offers primary care services as well as care for common and complex conditions, ranging from cold and flu, ear infections and gastrointestinal problems to falls, minor burns and lacerations.

In addition to providing primary care services, Miller and her team also draw labs, perform small medical procedures and handle acute care visits.

This is an opportunity to serve new patients and provide my patients in a rural community with complete care that embodies their physical, emotional and mental health,” Miller said. “This will be a new opportunity for them. I had someone come up to me and tell me this is the first time they’ve seen a provider in 30 years and they don’t even know me, so that’s pretty cool.”

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Illness and injury can happen anytime.

Mountain Family Care Center, on the campus of Ashe Memorial Hospital, is here to deliver quality medical care when you need it most. Since 2007, Mountain Family Care Center has been providing non-emergent express care to Ashe County residents. We serve patients of all ages and regularly see patients who don’t have a primary care doctor.

The Mountain Family Care Center team is comprised of six family nurse practitioners, including Jessica McNeil, Amanda Bundy, Paula Gilbert, Mekesha Senter, Suzanne Paskowski and Alicia Crane, six medical office assistants, a receptionist and an office manager.

We treat a wide variety of conditions and offer non-emergent and routine medical services, including: abrasions, minor burns and lacerations, flu and COVID testing, bronchitis and strep throat, sports physicals, primary care and gastrointestinal problems, among numerous others.

Should you need a higher level of care than the Mountain Family Care Center can provide, you are in the perfect place. Our facility is just steps from the Emergency Department at Ashe Memorial Hospital. Our providers will communicate with the hospital or with your primary care physician about the treatment you received and the next steps to take.

The clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Same day appointments are available. For more information, please call 336-846-6322.

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Every day is a learning opportunity for Dr. Joshua Dobstaff.

Whether it’s admitting and treating patients or balancing home life while being away for a week at a time, no two days are alike for the Ashe Memorial Hospital hospitalist.

It’s a juggling act, but the sense of energy and urgency that comes from helping stabilize a patient, seeing a patient continue to make strides or watching a patient walk out the door with a renewed sense of hope makes it all worthwhile.

“I enjoy the people,” Dr. Dobstaff said. “Everyone is super nice, friendly and very team oriented. It’s a nice, small community based environment.”

The hospitalist program at Ashe Memorial Hospital, which began in 2006, features a team of highly trained physicians specializing in inpatient care. On duty 24 hours a day, hospitalists work alongside nurses and physician assistants to help ensure that patients receive the highest level of quality care during their hospital stay while keeping their primary care physicians and specialists informed of their progress.

“We’re able to manage patient care much more effectively now,” general surgeon Dr. Charles Jones said. “It’s exciting to have the hospitalists here to be able to take care of the acutely ill patients fulltime.”

Our hospitalist program comprises four physicians who rotate on a full-time basis with additional physicians filling in on a part-time basis as needed. The hospitalists remain on-site for a week before turning patient care over to the incoming physician. During that time, they are tasked with gathering as much information as possible in a short amount of time to care for their patients.

“I love working in the hospital and being the doctor that my patients know and trust,” Dr. Caitlin Sullivan said.

Congratulations Ashe Memorial Hospital on your 80th Anniversary

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Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Ashe Memorial Hospital 80th Anniversary

Dr. Charles Jones wanted no part of medicine.

It wasn’t that he didn’t have an interest in the medical field. In fact, an eighth grade aptitude test all but confirmed that Dr. Jones was going to be a doctor or a national park ranger. But after watching the long hours and dedication his father and grandfather put into their surgical careers, Dr. Jones went off to college to forge a new path.

Dr. Jones wasn’t ready for that kind of responsibility at the time, but life has a funny way of pulling us where we’re meant to be even when we do our best to look the other way.

“I was 19 years old when I realized my calling in life,” Dr. Jones said. “I’ve obviously always had it in me, but when you’re pegged at an early age to do something, sometimes it takes a little maturity to figure it out. I ran from my destiny, but I was only able to run for so long and so far before my calling in life caught up to me.”

Although it wasn’t until after Dr. Jones took the MCAT and applied for medical school that he let on to the rest of his family that he would be joining the surgical lineage. While earning his medical degree from Wake Forest School of Medicine and completing his surgical residency at Carolinas Medical Center, Dr. Jones was continually reminded of the hard work and sacrifice that comes with being a successful surgeon. But by that point, Dr. Jones was more than ready to fulfill his destiny and continue to provide quality healthcare for his community.

A fourth-generation surgeon, Dr. Jones didn’t live in the hospital, like his father and grandfather before him, but he grew up around it and knew that when the time came for him to finally become a surgeon, Ashe County was the only place he was going to do it.

Dr. Jones returned to Ashe County in 1997 and began his surgical career alongside his father. Over the years, Dr. Jones has seen Ashe County grow and change, but through it all, one thing has remained the same. Ashe Memorial Hospital continues to be one of the cornerstones of this community.

It’s not uncommon for Dr. Jones and his staff to run into family members, friends, neighbors, community business leaders or fellow church members who have ended up in the hospital; and while it can be tough to watch those close to you struggling, the opportunity to care for the same community that raised him isn’t something Dr. Jones takes lightly.

“I enjoy being able to take care of a small community and the people that you know, love and have grown up with,” Dr. Jones said. “There’s a sense of community spirit, a sense of pride and a sense of sacrifice to provide the best possible healthcare for Ashe County; and I think every physician in Ashe County would say that. The staff is wonderful, and they give up time away from their families, but they continually keep going. They are here for a mission. It’s not just a job.”

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At Ashe Memorial Hospital, we are fortunate to work alongside a team of highly skilled physicians and surgeons who are committed to providing the best possible care for our community. Our physicians bring a wealth of knowledge and experience and continually educate themselves on the latest advances in medicine.

Ashe Memorial Hospital is staffed with both general and emergency room physicians 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure that the needs of our patients and the community are met. Our hospitalists, who work with our inpatients in our Medical/Surgical and Monitored Bed Unit, remain on-site at the hospital 24 hours a day while our emergency room physicians work 12-hour shifts. We’re fortunate to have partnered with ApolloMD to have round-the-clock physician coverage in our emergency room.

In addition to our hospitalists and emergency room physicians, our clinics are also fully staffed with physicians and nurse practitioners who are trained in family medicine and obstetrics and work together to provide comfort and treatment for our patients.

The Care Management team at Ashe Memorial Hospital is dedicated to ensuring that each patient’s needs are met when they are ready to leave the hospital. They work diligently with physicians and nurses to find the safest discharge for each patient. Discharge needs may include setting up oxygen, home health services, at home therapies, placement of a patient in an Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing facility or arranging for inpatient rehabilitation services.

Our Care Management team includes: quality review nurse Lisa Miller, who is responsible for performing frequent case reviews and assisting patients and care providers with treatment options and care plans, among other tasks, discharge planners Angie Miller and Patrick Stamper and manager and patient advocate Amanda Calloway.

“We are blessed to have a team that puts their hearts into their job; and they have care and empathy for each patient they serve,” Calloway said. “Our team is committed to ensuring each patient is treated with respect and their needs are met while they are here.”

As the patient advocate, Calloway is an advocate for the patients we serve by identifying care problems, making referrals to appropriate healthcare services, directing patient inquires or complaints, facilitating satisfactory resolutions, explaining policies to patients and assisting patients in locating providers and resources to meet their needs. Most importantly, Calloway and her team are there to provide a friendly face and emotional support for our patients and their families.

“I have always had a passion for the hospital atmosphere and helping others, and I feel that it is an honor to be able to serve the people of our community and our hospital,” Calloway said.

PROUD TO SUPPORT ASHE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 80TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY

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We’re fortunate every day to be able to care for those in their time of need. We’re here for you when you need us the most; but at Ashe Memorial Hospital, our desire to help isn’t confined simply to what’s happening within the walls of the hospital.

Ashe Memorial Hospital is proud to be the official medical provider for Ashe County Schools. In December 2020, we partnered with Ashe County High School to create a sports medicine program to provide more coverage for multiple high school sporting events.

In addition to being on-site for Huskies home games and providing initial care on the field or court, Ashe Memorial Hospital’s Rehabilitation Services department continues to

work with Ashe County High’s student-athletes, scheduling follow-up appointments and seeing them through the entire rehabilitative process. Our clinical team members also participate each year in Heart of a Husky to provide physicals and EKG screenings for our student-athletes.

However, our outreach isn’t limited to athletics. Over the summer, high school students can gain valuable insight into the healthcare field during our Camp Med Summer Program.

The experience is designed to expose students in grades 9-12 to various aspects of medicine and potential career opportunities available to them should they decide to pursue a career in healthcare. Over the course of the weeklong program, students participate in a variety of events and

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activities, including CPR, aquatic therapy, job shadowing where they are exposed to a variety of clinical experiences and dissection, among other team building skills.

Ashe Memorial Hospital takes great pride in being able to give back to this community. In addition to helping Ashe County students, our team members also actively participate in community events, including the Blue Ridge Brutal and the Buddy Walk for the High Country, and enjoy being a part of many local organizations, including the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce, the Ashe Food Pantry, the Girl Scouts and Badges of Ashe, among others.

The Ashe Memorial Hospital Foundation Never before have we seen the importance and need for strong, local healthcare. Team members at Ashe Memorial Hospital work tirelessly to ensure every member of our community has access to the level of care that our mission requires and our patients deserve.

In order to steward investments in community health, the Ashe Memorial Hospital Foundation was established as a nonprofit organization in 1992 to support the activities, facilities and mission of Ashe Memorial Hospital. To achieve this, the Foundation conducts a full complement of philanthropic programs, including an annual campaign, memorial gifts, special events, such as the annual Frank M. James Golf Tournament, major gifts, capital campaigns, and planned giving.

Under the direction of a volunteer Board of Directors, the Foundation conducts programs and campaigns that generate support through both renewed and new gifts and pledges. Funds are earmarked for capital projects, equipment purchases and innovative program development.

Foundation funds are transferred directly to Ashe Memorial Hospital and represent the donor’s interest and support in improving the quality of healthcare in the community.

The Foundation’s first fundraising project in 1993 raised $22,982 to help purchase endoscopy equipment. Since that time, the funds raised through the Foundation have assisted Ashe Memorial with various construction and renovation projects, including: • Mountain Hearts Center and therapeutic swimming pool • The Emergency Department • The Wilma Vannoy Birthing Center • The Jo Anne Poe Cancer Center • Second floor nursing station •Renovation of patient rooms In addition to construction and renovation, generous donations also have assisted the Foundation in purchasing necessary medical equipment, including: • Labor and Delivery equipment • Cardiac Rehabilitation program software

• Patient infusion chairs • Emergency Department patient monitors • Patient beds The Foundation’s current project is to raise $255,000 to purchase 3D Mammography equipment to assist with the early detection of breast cancer.

Acts of generosity help improve the quality of life for people in our community, not only today but into the future.

Through the generous support of grateful patients, family members and donors, we believe we can transform healthcare by enhancing and expanding vital projects, programs and services. Each gift is deeply appreciated and helps our physicians, nurses and staff to provide excellent healthcare using advanced technology and treatment methods.

If you wish to learn more about how you can help the Foundation to support Ashe Memorial Hospital, please call our office at 336-846-0842 or email Foundation Director Scott Brown at scott.brown@ashememorial.org.

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