1951 - 2001Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Inc.

Gainesville, Georgia

50celebrating

a proud history...

...building ahealthier future

th

anniversary

5cele

a prou

Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Inc. Gainesville, Georgia

Introduction.....................................................

Medical staff leadership..................................

Nurses..............................................................

Volunteers........................................................

1951-2001 Milestones.....................................

Authority.........................................................

Administration.................................................

Patients............................................................

Healthy Journey..............................................

Employees.......................................................

Table of Contents:

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Those were the first lines in the August1, 1951 Hospital Edition of "TheGainesville News." They sum up

the sentiment of a community that longedto welcome back its native sons and daugh-ters and to begin refocusing on the foothills,farms and family shops that made up theplace they called home.

The hospitals of that day were theDowney Hospital, a private hospital whichbegan in the home of Dr. James HenryDowney back in 1908, and the old HallCounty Hospital, located at 787 HospitalDrive. The latter was a public hospital andincluded an almshouse for the poor and eld-erly. Attorney James (Bubba) Dunlap tellsthat the early Hall County Hospital was a"fine facility and far nicer than the homes ofmost of the indigent population it served."In fact, it was the first time that many pa-tients had access to indoor plumbing. Abathtub was once used as a coal bin becausethe workers had never seen an indoor tub.

When Congress passed the Hill-BurtonAct of 1946, which gave grants to states to

build or enlargeexisting hospi-tals, a group oflocal leaderssaw the oppor-tunity to giveGainesville andnortheast Geor-gia the hospitalit needed. Thatmeant mergingthe two hospi-tals: one privateand one public

into one new facility. As with our recentmerger with Lanier Park, there was someinitial concern about how the communitywould be impacted. But with all optionscarefully weighed,one new hospitalwas planned.

The Hill-Burtonfunds would pro-vide roughly 1/3of the cost of theproposed$1,600,000needed. At theballot box, the community voted over-whelmingly to raise an additional $500,000through bond sales. The Hospital Author-ity had to come up with the remaining$600,000 anyway it could.

According to newspapers of the day, Mrs.Ethel Washington loaned the funds to pur-chase two pieces of property (one owned bythe Bickers family and theother by the Pierce family)for the construction of thehospital. Mrs. Washingtoncharged the Authority nointerest and her only as-surance was that "hermoney would be repaidwhen funds became avail-able." Chicopee donated $10,000; and inearly 1948, the Reconstruction FinanceCorporation approved the Authority’s loanapplication for $500,000. It was a long, six-year process; but by September of 1951, thecommunity lined up to tour thenew HallCounty Hospital.

Though some scoffed, saying the hospi-tal was an unnecessary extravagance andthat its 90 beds would never be filled, mostwere terribly proud of their new hospital.

Northeast Georgia Med-ical Center has been builtaround the cornerstone thatwas laid for Hall CountyHospital over 50 years ago.We all owe a great debt to thephysicians, nurses, commu-nity leaders, and volunteerswho worked to begin ourcommunity hospital... and to

those who have followed in their giant-sized footsteps.

"If these walls could talk" they would nodoubt share some amazing stories. Sometales they’d whisper with shame of days be-fore integration when separate water foun-tains and even separate wings were markedfor "whites" and "colored." There would

be many heart-breaking sto-ries of final good-byes be-tween a loving husband andwife, father and son, lifetimefriends. But there would alsobe tales of joyous births andout-and-out miracles: recov-eries that left our finest physi-cians smiling, shaking their

heads and grateful that ultimately powerover life and death did not rest in theirhands.

Anniversaries are a good time to re-member. Our hospital has a proud history— not just because our technologies and fa-

...If these walls could talk...The hospital’s history is made up of the struggles & triumphs of the people of northeast Georgia

John A. Ferguson, Jr., FACHEPresidentNortheast Georgia Health System

continued next page

The Hall County Hospital was born as an idea just at the close of World War II.

Gainesville was hot in that early September 1945, and citizens were watching the news

of the world. Germany was still being explored, and its leaders were being tracked down.

Japan had surrendered, but the job of occupation was still ahead. All over the United

States, the cry was Bring the boys home! Home was a magic word in those days...

cilities have improved — but because the hos-pital’s story is really thousands of personalstories. Some of the personal contributionshave been well recorded, and we know thenames of the heroes. Through yellowed anddog-eared newspaper clippings we can learnabout the earliest Authority and Auxiliary.Staff members pass down stories of caringphysicians and exceptional teachers andnurses like prized heirlooms. But many of thepeople who helped saved lives and kept thehospital moving forward are nameless.There’s the farmer who repeatedly left hisfield to give a pint of blood when supplieswere low, and the home-maker who baked acake and donated it to the Auxiliary to sell inthe Bright Spot.

In another 50 years, this special section willno doubt be yellowed, faded and dog-earedand being read by members of a generationthat is yet unborn. Knowing how quickly ad-vances have occurred in the last 50 years,there is no way to predict what the hospital of2051 will look like. But whatever form ittakes, it will be built upon the service of themen and women of 1951 and all those whohave followed. Our efforts to build the bestpossible health system are not only for ourgeneration, but also for our sons’ and daugh-ters’. With that in mind, this special issue isdedicated to the people who have shaped thehospital over the past 50 years and to the gen-erations who will someday pull this tabloidfrom Grandma s things, marvel at how prim-itive our technologies were and laugh at ourhair styles

The young doctors who were part ofthe Hall County medical commu-nity of 1951 were members of what

Tom Brokaw has called "The Greatest Gen-eration." They were young boys during theGreat Depression. Many had served duringWWII; all grew up in a time when TB, Polio,and even childbirth took the lives of thousandseach year.

"It was a very differenttime," says H. E. Valentine,MD, one of the doctors on theoriginal medical staff. "Over-all we were serious young men.We had come home from dutyoverseas. We were earnest andready to settle down with ourfamilies and build our commu-nity."

Dr. Valentine earned hismedical degree from the Medical College ofVirginia before coming south to Emory for hisinternship. After a year at Emory, he was offto Charleston for three months with the Navyand then to Camp Lejeune for Medical Offi-cer training. He served overseas with the Ma-rine’s First Division until the war ended. Heserved in three campaigns in the Pacific withthe Occupation Troops in China. Afterwards,it was back to Emory and his wife, Bonnelle.

"I had worked for Charlie Brice, aGainesville dentist, while Herb was over-seas," she says. "Charlie encouraged Herb toconsider Gainesville as a place topractice. He told us about plansfor the new hospital and what agreat town it was. He was instru-mental in bringing Herb to HallCounty."

Dr. Valentine began practice in1948, nearly 10 years before theBuford dam was finished to createLake Lanier .

"The medical community wassmall enough for us to all knowone another," he says. "We hosted the med-ical staff Christmas party right here in our

home. Dr. Jesse Meeks was quite a characterand we would sit and listen to his stories forhours on end."

In the earliest days of the hospital, the fa-cility was equipped only with the bare neces-sities.

"I would take my EKG machine over to thehospital so I could monitor heart rhythms of my

patients," he says. "But there was acore of very good, capable physicianslike Pep Brown , Bart McCrum, andRaleigh Garner. They began to attractother high caliber specialists like P.K.Dixon and Henry Jennings, and soonwe had a bustling hospital."

Martin Smith, MD, was aGainesville native who had grownup playing in the fields and woodsthat would one day be the seat ofGainesville’s medical community.

"I began practice in Gainesville in Januaryof ’51," he says. "I had completed my resi-dency at Children’s Hospital of Washington,come to Gainesville and begun my practicewithout a break. So my wife Mary and I bor-rowed a friend’s house up at Lake Rabun to tryto get some rest. Of course, it worked out tobe the week of the dedication. I drove backfrom the lake to be a part of the ceremony andthen headed back up to the mountains to fin-ish my vacation."

Then-governor Herman Talmadge dedi-cated the new hospital on September 1, 1951.

Edgar Dunlap, local attorney, was themaster of ceremonies.

"After my first year in practice, Ipaid a social visit to one of my in-structors from medical school,"Smith continued. He asked me howit was going and I told him that we’dlost three children that year. In thosedays the paper would run the obitu-aries on the front page. It was not un-common to see children’s names.There was a high incidence of low-

birth weight babies; it was a time before mostchildhood immunizations and there were far

continued from previous page

Of duty, honor & responsibilityThe medical staff of the early 1950s served northeast Georgia with distinction

H.E. Valentine, MD

B. McCrum, MD

2

the hospital’s story isreally thousands of

personal stories

fewer choices of antibiotics and other pharma-ceuticals."

By the time of his retirement, Smith had caredfor successive generations of the same family.

"I was routinely treating third generations,"says Dr. Smith. "I didn’t have to ask if a patienthad a family history of diabetes, I was there whenhis grandfather developed it. "

In 1985, Dr. Smith served as the president of theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics and has been rec-ognized nationally for his efforts to improve im-munization rates among the country’s children.

Cullen McCarver, MD, completed hismedical degree and passed his boards in1942. He began his general surgical resi-dency in Winston-Salem, NC, but ninemonths into his training he received his draftnotice. While serving in the Army, he sus-tained a back injury that landed him as a pa-tient in a Temple, Texas hospital.

"It was a glorious military injury," hejokes. "I was playing baseball with some en-listed men and ran back to catch the ball. Ifell into a trench and broke my back. Afterthat, they pulled me from active duty and putme to work in their ward where I received an-other year of general surgery and orthopedictraining."

By 1949, Dr. McCarver had set up prac-tice in Gainesville where the concrete foun-dation had already been poured for the HallCounty Hospital.

"When the hospital finally opened, we hadto take our own instruments from our officeto use with our patients," he says. "The hos-

pital had someinstruments,but they werefor emergen-cies. None ofus had anymoney backthen and ourtools were likegold to us. Mydad was an oldcountry doc-tor, so I hadsome of hisforceps andwent andbought other things I needed for my patientsat the hospital.

"We were a pretty tightly knit group ofphysicians," he says. "We had to be. We alltook call because there were no ER physi-cians. That meant wherever you were — if itwas your day — you answered the call. Ape-diatrician might see an 87-year-oldwoman. If you were in the office see-ing patients, you left and went to thehospital. It was an imperfect system,for sure, but we made it work as bestwe could."

In 1953, Henry S. Jennings, MD,moved to Gainesville. He had completedhis medical training at Emory, served twoyears in the military and had been one ofthe founding partners of the EmoryClinic.

"At the Emory Clinic, my work was mostly episodic care," he says. "Patients would comein for a problem, I would make a referral, andmight never see the patient again. I knew thatwasn’t the kind of medicine I wanted to practice.So, I headed to Gainesville to build a practicewhere I could get to know the people I was caring for."

In the days before Medicaid, physicians did’clinic work’ without pay.

"Agood part of the time you took care of peo-ple who had no means of paying you," he says.

"But they needed care, so we gave it. We prac-ticed good medicine. It was primitive medicineby today’s standards, but good medicine none-the-less.

Dr. Jennings says the most dramatic changesin internal medicine during the past 50 years re-volve around the thousands of new technologies

that have been added since the hos-pital opened.

"I would never go back," saysDr. Jennings. "That is to say thatMRIs, CTs and ultrasounds are aninvaluable part of making an accu-rate diagnosis. But when thesetechnologies were developed,things changed dramatically in thepatient-physician relationship. Inthe early days, if a patient said ’I

have a headache,’ I started asking questions,touching my patient and listening. Today, thatexchange is often short-circuited by the need toefficiently schedule the tests a patient needs.Like I said, I would not go back to the old way.But I know the value of getting to know your pa-tients."

Gainesville is a much larger town these days,but as Dr. Jennings moves around the commu-nity he is routinely greeted with a hug by formerpatients.

"I have become part of their families and theyare part of mine. If I had to do it all over again,

Billy Hardman, MD

Hamil Murray, MD, Hall CountyHospital s first pathologist

Dr. Smith during the 1950s community health fair

continued next page

I wouldn’t change a thing."In 1954, Drs. Hamil Murray and P. K.

Dixon joined the Gainesville medical commu-nity.

"I came to Gainesville because Pep Browninvited me to join him," says Dixon, anative of Jonesboro. "He had been inprivate practice alone and was havinga tough time of it. That meant he hadno back-up, no one to assist him whenhe needed it. Without a partner, I wouldhave been in the same boat."

Dr. Dixon had originally applied tothe Abraham Baldwin Agricultural Col-lege when he was a senior in high school.

"I didn’t have the means to even considermedical school," he says. "But my principalcalled me into his office. I was trying to re-member what I had done to get in trouble whenhe told me that he and Judge Hutchinsonwanted to guarantee my way through medicalschool. I took them up on their offer and wentto Emory. When Pep invited me to join him, Idecided it was a good idea and headed north forGainesville."

"P.K. was responsible for much of the hospi-tal’s early expansion," says Dr. Valentine. "Hehad served in influential state positions andhelped us nearly double the size of the hospital

during the first major expansion."

Dr. Dixon was also in-strumental in startingLanier Park Hospitalback in 1977.

Hamil Murray, MD,joined the hospital in1954 as the first full-timepathologist.

"I had startedout to study inter-

nal medicine," says the Danielsville na-tive. "I took a pathology residency as partof my training and found I really liked it. "

The hospital’s first lab was in a smallarea located on the first floor across fromwhat are now the service elevators.

"All tests were done by hand," says Dr.Murray. "Our reagents were preparedby hand and from recipes. We hadonly the most basic laboratory equip-ment.

"We had a small room adjacent to the main labwhere we drew blood from donors. Though we

didn’t participate with the Red Cross then, wehad a good relationship with them and furnishedblood to their eligible patients hospitalized here.They would borrow blood from us when theyneeded it, and we would call on them when our

supplies were low."When we were both low, we had

a call list we relied on. Members ofthe community were literally a partof our efforts to save lives. Withouttheir willingness to stop what theywere doing and come give blood, wewould have lostmany patients. Itwas just that kind of

hospital and that kind of a com-munity."

Dr. John Burns, III, was asecond-generation physician topractice at the new hospital. Hisfather, a surgeon, had been oneof the owners of the DowneyHospital before the new HallCounty Hospital was built.

Dr. Downey was New Holland’s chief sur-geon and went into private practice when themill hospital closed in 1903. In 1908, Downeyconverted part of his private residence into thesix-room Downey Hospital, the only one be-tween Atlanta and Greenville.

"In 1912, Dr. Downey built a second DowneyHospital, with 36 rooms. He took my dad intohis practice when Dad returned from WWI,"says Dr. Burns.

The younger Burns, an obstetrician and gy-necologist, joined the hospital in 1956 after re-turning from the Korean War.

"There were already several obstetri-cians and gynecologistspracticing in the commu-nity," he says. "Dr. BartonMcCrum and Billy Hardmanwere on the staff when itopened. Barton had help de-liver the first babyborn in the new hospi-tal. Soon, the hospitaldeveloped such a reputation thatmany other specialists were drawnto Gainesville."

One of the greatest improve-ments in obstetrics in the past 50

years was the development of the subspecialtyof neonatology and new treatments for prema-

ture infants."When we were caring for mothers with se-

vere complications, we would sometimes haveto send them to Grady because of high risk prob-lems that could develop with the newborn," heexplains. "Grady had more resources for help-ing the mother and the baby. One Christmas, oneof my patients began to have trouble. She hadhigh blood pressure; the baby was in distress. Ihad to send her to Atlanta, so we called on a lo-cal funeral home to assist with transport. Thedriver left his Christmas dinner and drove her to

Atlanta. Of course, hewasn’t paid for doingthat. But he helpedsave that baby. Thatwas just the kind ofcommunity we workedin."

As he looks to thefuture of medicine, Dr.Burns is hopeful.

"If the past 50years are any indica-

tion," he says, "we can’t even imagine the ad-vancements that will bemade in the next halfcentury. So much re-search is being done todevelop new pharma-ceuticals and treat-ments. Wouldn’t it bewonderful if the nextgeneration is able tospeak about cancer theway we speak of polio — as a horrible diseaseof the past?"

Even though John III retired in1993, the contributions of the Burnsfamily to the medical communitycontinue today. Yet another JohnBurns, the son of John, III, now prac-tices anesthesiology at the MedicalCenter, following a legacy begun

nearly a century ago by hisgrandfather.

Many other father/son physi-cian teams including Pep Brown s son andnamesake; Hamil Murray s son Tom; P.K.Dixon s son, Ken; and others have served gen-erations at the Medical Center.

Henry Jennings,joined the hospital

in 1953

Pep Brown, MD

P.K. Dixon, MD

Pep Brown, MD

John Burns, III, MD

Raliegh Garner, MD

Doctors of 1951itor s Note: Following is a list of the original medical staff at Hall County

ospital the day it opened. The list was compiled based onormation from the August 1, 1951 issue of The Daily Times and

e memories of the physicians we contacted. We offer sincere ologies for any omissions.

Rafe Banks P. F. Brown John Burns, Jr. E. E. Butler Raleigh Garner Ben Gilbert Hartwell Joiner Billy Hardman Cullen McCarver Barton McCrum Lee Rogers Martin H. Smith Herbert Valentine Eugene Ward Cleve Whelchel C. W. Whitworth

E.E. Butler devoted his life to medicine

. E. Butler, MD, was the first black physician to receive privileges ate Hall County Hospital. He was born April 13,

908, less than 60 years after the end of the CivilWar. He died in May of 1955, just one year after

e Supreme Court declared segregation unconsti-tional.He lived during a period in history in which heas not a slave but in which he was denied fullghts and privileges as a US citizen. Butler attended a segregated elementary school

Macon, Morehouse High School and College, and Meharry Medicalollege in Nashville, TN. Meharry is a private institution founded bye Freedman s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church to

ducate freed slaves and to provide healthcare services to the poor andnderserved. After completing medical school in 1933, Dr. Butlerracticed in Macon for two years before working in a Tuberculosisnit at Alto from 1935 to 1936.

He came to Gainesville in 1936 and practiced here until his death 1955. He was an active member of the community, the first black serve on the Gainesville Board of Education and spearheaded therst black voter registration drive. He loved and supported the Fairtreet Athletic Association and the Fair Street Band. The communityemorialized his service through the naming of the E.E. Butler Highchool and E.E. Butler Parkway.

He was a deacon and Sunday School teacher at St. John s Baptisthurch.

RadiologyThe hospital s first radiologist was Dr. Oliver Ghent,

says Clark Ferrell, MD, who joined the hospital back in1960. When I started practicing medicine more than 40years ago, we had no MRI, no ultrasound, no CT. Weprovided primarily X-rays, upper GIs, and radiation thera-py, until Dr. Lake joined the organization, and then werelinquished therapy to him and his new department.Technology for imaging has become much safer and morereliable through the years.

AnesthesiologyDr. Calvin Allen, the hospital s first anesthesiologist,joined the medical staff in 1957. Assisted by two nurseanesthetist they used primarily gas anesthesia which washighly explosive. Static electricity could cause the gas toignite, says Dr. Allen, who retired in 1990. In addition,the early Hydrogen agents were also harmful to the liver.The development of new injectable anesthesia that couldbe administered through IVs was a vast improvement inthe way care was given during my medical career.

In 1967, in a brand new intensivecare unit, a young nurse, SandraCantrell learned one of the most

important lessons of her nursing career."We were so proud of ourselves," she

explains. "We’d never had anything likethe unit. By today’s standards it was pret-ty barren and sterile, but to us it was some-thing straight out of a science fiction pro-gram. It was state-of-the-art.

"The unit had five beds located in indi-vidual cubicles and one centralized moni-toring desk. At that desk we had a moni-tor for each patient. We take that kind oftechnology and equipment for grantednow," she says, "but until that time, theonly way you monitored a patient was athis or her bedside."

One evening Cantrell made her roundsin the unit checking the leads for the heartrhythm monitors, chatting with thepatients and recording vital signs. Whenshe seated herself at the monitoring sta-tion, she noticed a dangerously irregularrhythm for one patient.

"I was startled and looked up over themonitor," she says. "The patient was fine...reading. I checked the monitor and the rhythmwas normal. But in a minute, it happenedagain, and then again. I finally went over andasked him what he was doing. He wasscratching the leads, and it disrupted the trans-mission to our monitors.

I learned my lesson. No matter howgreat the technology becomes, you nursethe patient not the machine."

The theme of Cantrell’s story is echoedtime and again as nurses discuss thechanges in their profession over the lasthalf century.

Retired Director of Nursing MiriamSellers joined the hospital in 1956. For 20years she served as the night duty supervi-sor. From 1976 to 1986 when she retired,Sellers was the hospital’s director of nurs-ing.

"When I joined the hospital, our equip-ment was pretty basic," she says. "Weused glass syringes and had to reuse theneedles. We’d sharpen them by hand to tryto keep them smooth enough to use with-out tearing the patient’s skin.

"Even the patients’ drinking strawswere glass!"

With no emergency medical services,local funeral homes provided patienttransport.

"They’d bring patients to us in thehearse," she says. "We knew all the funer-al home directors. Henry Ward was thecoroner, and he and I got to be goodfriends. Things were just much simplerthen."

The absence of technology in the hospi-tal’s early days meant nurses knew theyhad to rely heavily on their interpersonaland observational skills to do a good job.

"Our first and last source of informationabout patient was pretty much what thepatients told us and what we observed inthem," says Mrs. Sellers. "Slowly webegan to add equipment like ultrasounds,CAT scans and MRIs, but in the earlydays, X-rays were about it. Our bestequipment were our eyes and ears."

"I would guess they still are."For Linda Niles, manager of the post

anesthesia care unit at the hospital, thegreatest challenge is adapting to the rapidpace of change.

"I’ve been here almost 25 years," shesays. "Not only is healthcare changing —we all expect that — the rate at which it ischanging is increasing exponentially.

According to Mrs. Niles, recent chal-lenges to good nursing have come in manyunexpected forms.

"The introduction of universal precau-tions when AIDS and hepititis was identi-fied was a substantial change," she says."Not because it’s a big deal to wear glovesand a mask during some procedures, butbecause it forced healthcare providers tothink continually about the fact that theyplace themselves in harms way to do their jobs.

"In addition, the unification of the twohospitals was a huge undertaking foreveryone," she says. "It was a joyful thingand a hurtful thing at the same time.People loved Lanier Park and they lovedthe Medical Center. Accepting the unifi-cation and all that went along with it was apretty big adjustment for staffs at bothhospitals, for our physicians, staffs and thecommunity."

Another unexpected challenge to deliv-ering good nursing care has been the rapidgrowth of the Hispanic community innortheast Georgia.

"We are still discovering the differencesin our cultures and the many diverse needsof the people we serve. It is more thanadding translators. It’s about learning toappreciate people who are different from

Miriam Sellers receives a service pinfrom John Ferguson.

To serve, to heal, to care...Technology has changed the duties of nurses but not the mission

Gretchen Thompson-Hulon

you and counting on you to help them."Sometimes, Niles says, the hustle and

bustle, technologies and changes can makea nurse question why he or she chose theprofession.

"Every job has distractions, I’m sure,"she says. "Sometimes, you just have torefocus on your personal mission. Forevery nurse I’ve ever known who’s worthher salt, that usually comes down to a deepdesire to make a difference, to help peoplewhatever their race, whatever their dis-ease. I imagine every nurse who’s workedhere in the last 50 years has had a handfulof moments that make the tough timesworth it. You hold on to those and then getback to work.

Linda Niles, manager of the post anes-thesia care unit

James Alday, MD, with Carolyn Knopp, nurse epidemilogist, in the early 1970s.

Shown above from top to

bottom (l-r) are nurses:

Anita Scott, Fran Fields,

Betty Sue Harris, Evelyn

Waugh, and Diane Quinn.

7

The year was 1960, and scatteredacross north Georgia were 10 younggirls who would become the first

class of the newly founded Hall School ofNursing. They would come from mountainsand towns and would form friendships thatwould last a lifetime.

"We still gather every year," says SonyaHancock, RN, BSN, the school’s very firstapplicant and one of two members of thefirst HSN class who still works for the MedicalCenter. "We worked our behinds off, but thosewere some of the best years of my life. Thoseladies all still mean a lot to me."

Mrs. Hancock was 17 when she wasaccepted at the new school. She hadplanned to attend Georgia Baptist’s NursingSchool when a classmate gave her Mrs. OciePope’s number and told her about the newprogram.

"There was no dorm," she says. "Welived in ahouse onSpring Street,and the nextclass lived inthe Dixie HuntHotel. Wewoke eachmorning at 5a.m., were inclass or onduty all dayand were notallowed out ofour rooms after7 p.m. Wea t t e n d e dschool year-round with nosummers off."

Nursing students were considered mem-bers of the hospital staff and given job dutiesin addition to their classroom studies. From7 to 9 a.m. the students were in "clinicals" inthe hospital, being taught by nurses andphysicians. Then they were off to class forthe bulk of the day. They would finish theirclasses and hospital duties around 5 p.m.and were to go to study hall in their SpringStreet home from 7 to 9 p.m.

"For three months we worked in a maxi-

mum security psychiatric ward inChattahoochee, FL," says Barbara Garrett,RN, BSN, the other of the original ten whois still employed by the Medical Center."We were put in charge and given the keys.It was a huge responsibility for young stu-dents. They warned us to watch our backsand to watch out for each other because ’thepatients have nothing to lose and you havethe keys.’ If we had been old enough torealize what we were doing, we would havebeen scared to death."

All members of the Hall School ofNursing dressed in long, white uniforms.The shortest member of the class was to hemher skirt so that it hung only seven inchesfrom the floor. Then the others were to hemtheir skirts so that all hem lines were levelwhen they stood together.

"I was one of the tallest," says Mrs.Hancock, "and I weighed 100 pounds, so Ilooked like a beanpole! Everyone thoughtwe were nuns. If we didn’t have on our caps,we were out of uniform; but those caps werestatus symbols, and we were proud to wearthem."

School policy prohibited the nurses frombeing married, though one member of theclass was secretly married for the entirethree years. Because students were not per-mitted to have cars, they walked every-where.

"We walked to chapel at Brenau everyThursday night, and we got some free timeon Friday and Saturday nights," says Mrs.Garrett. "We’d walk to Watley’s downtownand have a spoon burger. We might go to thetheatre if we had saved up enough money."

"After a suitor had called on a fellow stu-

Hall School of Nursing helped ease nursing shortageMemories from members of the school’s first class

Sonya Hancock, RN

Barbara Garrett, RN

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Even at 97 years old, Gladys Garner captures attention when she walks into a room.Her once fiery red hair has long since turned gray. She must steady herself with awalker now, but her eyes sparkle like a child’s as she greets her guests. On this day,

friends have come to help her reminisce about the early days of the Hospital Auxiliary. Inher living room, in a beautiful Cape Cod style home on the shores of Lake Lanier, are threeof Gainesville’s living legends: Mrs. Garner, who founded the Auxiliary back in 1951;JoAnne Frierson, long-time Auxilian and Auxiliary President 1989-90; and Jane E. Carter,retired director of the Medical Center Auxiliary.

"Once back in 1949, I walked into a room fullof men to speak about plans for the Auxiliary,"Mrs. Garner says. "As I walked passed one of thegentlemen, I heard him say ’what does she thinkshe’s doing?’ I knew what Hospital Auxiliary’shad done in other states and that we would need astrong organization of volunteers when our hospi-tal opened.

"The doctors used to say that we moved in andtook charge," she laughs. "I guess we did."

The Auxiliary of 1951 was made up of 195members. Mrs. Garner had contacted local organ-izations across the region to make them aware ofthe need for women to serve in the new hospital.

We didn’t have any trouble getting people involved. Everyone wanted to help," shesays.

Mrs. Garner and Ocie Rich Pope recruited Mrs. Claude Carter to be the group’s firstpresident. The Pilot Club of Gainesville began volunteering at the information desk, aservice project which they continue 50 years later.

"One of the earliest Auxiliary projects was The Bright Spot, the forerunner of the cur-rent Window Shop," says Mrs. Frierson, who began volunteering in 1954. "We wouldbring sandwiches and food from home to sale. You could never do that now with currenthealth regulations! But we thought nothing of it then, and it helped raise money to buyneeded supplies for the hospital."

Nell Whelchel Wiegand was a recent graduate of the University of Georgia when she

ent a couple of times, he became fairame," laughs Mrs. Hancock. "We’dease those boys and have the best time!

Then we’d hound them until they’d takes all for rides or to a drive-in restaurant."

Final exams made life particularly hardor the nursing students. "There were times when the demands

were so great that I would think ’what am doing here,’ " says Mrs. Garrett. "I

would be so exhausted, but all-in-all itwas the most fun I’ve had in my life!"During finals, Auxilians would bring thetudents brownies and snacks so that theyould study without having to leave theirooms to eat.

"Nell Weigand and Ocie Popeefriended us in a way that is hard toescribe," says Mrs. Hancock. "They

made us feel valued and appreciated.Nell would hold socials and teas to helps take a break and relax. Mrs. Popeepeatedly had all 10 of us in her homeor dinner. P.K. Dixon would do theame thing and take us out on the lake.

Those special breaks in our veryemanding routine were all that kept usoing some times."

"Drs. Sam Poole, Dick Stribling andHenry Jennings were our mentors,"dds Mrs. Garrett. "They took time toeach us and encourage us. Each stu-ent was to choose a physician toemove the stripe from her cap whenhe was a Senior. We were to choosehe doctor who had helped us the mostn our studies. I chose Dr. Jennings, and

Sonya chose Dr. Poole."Each of the 10 students who began in theirst class completed their course of studyt the Hall School of Nursing. As theears passed, all but Mrs. Garrett and

Mrs. Hancock moved on to other call-ngs. But the group remains close evenfter more than 25 years.

"We’re like comrades in arms," saysMrs. Hancock. "You can’t go throughomething like that together and not share real bond. That class, that school, andll of the people who helped us throughhe years are part of precious memories.

Volunteers celebrate their 50th AnniversaryHall County Hospital’s Auxiliary was serving before the hospital opened its doors

The Bright Spot during the early 1950s

Gladys Garner, Hospital Auxiliary founder

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began volunteering 50 years ago. Mrs.Wiegand was a Gainesville native withstrong family ties to the medical commu-nity. Her uncle, Cleve Whelchel, was oneof the doctors who owned the old DowneyHospital when the new Hall CountyHospital was built; and Pep Brown was hercousin.

"I think I was working at the newspaperselling ads when I started volunteering,"she says. "My sorority, Phi Mu, hadorganized book carts at hospitals all overthe country, so I got involved with startingthe bookmobile. The local departmentstore, Ronalds, donated a dress, and we auc-tioned it off to raise money to buy the booksand cart. Helen Lily was the chairperson."

Early Auxilians also hemmed napkinsand rubber sheets by hand, and made trayand instrument covers. They also madedraperies and gift items to sell in a cornerof The Bright Spot.

In 1959, Mrs. Ocie Pope, with theAuxiliary as the sponsor, opened the HallSchool of Nursing.

"Nurses were in such short supply,"explains Mrs. Wiegand, who has alsoserved on various medical center boards in

her 50 years of service to the hospital. "Itwas an important way that the Auxiliarycould improve patient care, and we wereproud to get the school started and to helpit grow."

The Auxiliary donated over $500,000 tothe Hall School of Nursing between 1959and 1978 when the school merged withBrenau University.

"The Auxiliary’s support for the schoolwas more than just financial," saysBarbara Garrett, one of the students in the

first class ever at the school. "They wouldbring us food during finals and invite usinto their homes. They knew we wereaway from our parents for long periods oftime and took us in under their wings like partof their families."

Just before the rebellious 60s began, theAuxiliary began a teen volunteer program.Ninety "candy strippers" served in morethan 30 areas of the hospital during theprogram’s first year. During the summerof 2001, 100 teen volunteers donated over7000 hours of service.

In 1976, the Auxiliary began recruitingmale volunteers; and the Hall CountyHospital was renamed Northeast GeorgiaMedical Center. The same year, a true"steel magnolia," Jane Carter, took the helmas the third director of volunteer services,succeeding Adelaide Norton and MaryKnickerbocker. Under her guidance, theAuxiliary took on greater and greater chal-lenges to meet the growing needs of the com-munity.

"Jane was an insightful leader for thevolunteer services department," says JohnFerguson, President of Northeast GeorgiaHealth System. "She was as smart as she

was graciousand made ourprogram one of— if not THE —strongest volun-teer programsin the state. "

In 1980, theAuxiliary spon-sored the firstLove Light Treeproject, chairedby Anne Tho-mas. The proj-ect raised over$10,000 which

was used to ren-ovate the new-

born nursery. In 1985, the Auxiliary called on their

founder and her husband, Dr. RaleighGarner, to chair the Love Light Project toraise funds for Lifeline. Lifeline is an in-home system that provides emergency callservices for people with handicaps or med-ical problems. Dr. and Mrs. Garner gra-ciously agreed to act as chairs, and the proj-ect raised over $21,000.

Since its inception, the Love Light Treehas raised nearly $700,000 for various proj-

ects throughout the hospital.In 1992, the Auxiliary took on another

holiday project: Marketplace. Marketplacebrings vendors from all over the region to atwo-day shopping event at the Gainesville

Civic Center. All proceeds from booth salesto the vendors and from refreshment salesbenefit a specified hospital project.

"Because of Love Light, the holidayswere already a very busy time for the vol-unteers when they voted to take onMarketplace," says Ms. Carter. "But theystepped right up to the task and, with MaryLynn Coyle and Sally Darden as their firstchairs, had a very successful first year.The project has grown every year since,and shopping at Marketplace has become atraditional community kick-off for the hol-iday season."

In less than a decade, Marketplace hasraised over a quarter-million dollars forhospital improvements.

"The Auxiliary’s financial contributionsthrough the efforts of the volunteers areconsiderable," says Lynne Allen, currentdirector of volunteer services. "They’veraised over $3 million for worthy hospitalprojects. But their most important contri-butions are the hours upon hours that theyspend in service to our patients. In our his-tory, volunteers have given over one mil-lion service hours. The volunteers areoften part of other service organizationslike The Red Cross, Phoenix Society,Insurance Women of Gainesville or TheJunior League; but they choose to fulfilltheir service hours through the Auxiliary.They volunteer for many reasons, but theyall share a desire to make a fulfilling andmeaningful contribution."

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Joanne Frierson at the admitting desk in the mid 80s

Nell Wiegand, 50 year volunteer, and retired Auxiliary Director Jane Carter

1952 - Sale of hot dogs paid for a croup tent for thechildren s ward

1959 - 1978- Hall School of Nursing: a $23,000 gift to

help built the school, other gifts provided stu-dent scholarships, furniture, receptions, newequipment, an elevator for the school

1960s- Auxiliary purchased TVs for patients to rent,Newborn Baby Picture service began

1980- Love Light began

1984- Lifeline is sponsored by Auxiliary

1991- Auxiliary pledged $250,000 in seed money tosupport the Foundation

1992- Marketplace began

1993- First Steps, a parenting support program,

began in conjunction with Prevent Child AbuseGainesville

1995- a $50,000 gift pur-chased EKG monitorsand fax machines inambulances in Hall andWhite Counties;

- NGMC Auxiliary named top non-profitorganization in Hall County

1997- An infant security unit for the renovated

Mother/Baby unit purchased with fundsdonated by the Auxiliary

1998- The Auxiliary contributed $300,000 toHealthy Journey to benefit Cardiology

1999- WHALE program - We Have A LittleEmergency began to identify an injured childto emergency medical personnel when theinjured parent or driver cannot speak for thechild.

Auxiliary Highlights 1951 - 2001

Barbara & Jack Griffeth, MD, 1999 & 2000 Love Light chairs

Auxiliary volunteers beganMarketplace in 1992.

Auxiliary Past Presidents

Founder: Gladys Garner

1999-2000 Teresa Kay

1998-1999 Jill Hill

1997-1998 Jaqueline Clements

1996-1997 Virginia Hall

1995-1996 Helen Powell

1994-1995 Eula Pearce

1993-1994 Peggy Walters

1992-1993 Dedra Martin

1991-1992 MaryAnne McNeece

1990-1991 Mary Early

1989-1990 Joanne Frierson

1988-1989 Ineke Zonnenberg

1987-1988 Ann Taylor

1986-1987 Ruth James

1985-1986 Barbara Ostrom

1984-1985 Joan Kosmala

1983-1984 Joan Tilley

1982-1983 Miriam Robinson

1981-1982 Jean McRae

1980-1981 Skip Reed

1978-1980 Catherine Telford

1976-1978 Anne Thomas

1974-1976 Adelaide Norton

1972-1974 Nell Wiegand

1968-1972 Anne Garrard

1967-1968 Margaret Ellett

1965-1967 Louise Estes

1964-1965 Lillian Jacobs

1963-1964 Ditty DeLong

1960-1963 Anne Vance

1957-1960 Eva McConnell

1954-1957 Emma Edmondson

1951-1954 Marie Carter

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11

John Darden & friends entertain a crowd

Celebrating 50 years o1951 - On September 1, 1951 the 90-bed HallCounty Hospital opened at 743 Spring St.succeeding the Hall County Hospital builtin 1934 and the Downey Hospital firstopened in 1908 and expanded in 1912.

1958 - First expansion of Hall County Hospitalcompleted increasing the bed capacity to147. P.K. Dixon, MD, makes a formalmotion that the Medical Staff recommendto the Authority that a school of nursingbe established.

1959-The Candy Striper Program (now theTeen Volunteer Program) began. -A 15-month training program for labora-tory technicians, then in critically shortsupply, was established at North GeorgiaTech and Vocational School inClarkesville. Subsequently, most all hos-pitals in North Georgia were fully or par-tially staffed by graduates of the program.-The recovery room opened.

1966An expanded emergency room opened.

1967Completion of a second addition bringsthe bed count to 252 and adds a 5-bedintensive coronary care unit.

1969The Physical Therapy Department opened

1970Hall County Hospital entered the comput-er age using an NCR Century 100 payrollcomputer. A 28-bed psychiatric wing isadded.

1971Hall County Hospital and Lanier AreaVocational -Technical School provide a 24-month program for radiological technologists.

1973 Cobalt Therapy Services added

1973-74Addition expanded radiology facilitiesand administrative office space.

f community service1976 - Hall County Hospital becomesNortheast Georgia Medical Center. -$10,000,000 expansion completed.Added a 10-bed coronary care unitunder the direction of Sam Poole, MD,a 12-room operating suite, a new ER,10-bed Surgical ICU, 40 additionalacute care beds and the expansion of x-ray and several support services.

1977Lanier Park Hospital opened.

1980 Medical Center Auxiliary began theannual Love Light Tree Celebration.

1983NGMC opened an Urgent Care Centerin Oakwood. The name was laterchanged to Neighborhood Healthcare.

1984NGMC opened first cardiac catheteriza-tion and special procedures lab for thediagnosis of heart and vascular disease.

1985A new Outpatient Services Buildingopened, providing space for a new radi-ation oncology treatment department,outpatient cardiology services, a newclinical laboratory, dialysis, outpatientsurgery services, a community wellnesscenter and new administrative offices.Lanier Park expanded its emergencyroom, outpatient services and operatingrooms.

Mid-80 sNGMC received CON approval fromthe state to begin offering home healthservices. Hospice care, Lifeline andInfusion Therapy were later added.

1986The Hospital Authority leased theMedical Center to a holding company,Northeast Georgia Health System,through its subsidiary NGMC, Inc.

1987Laurelwood, mental health, alcohol anddrug abuse facility opened.

1989In January, the Rehabilitation Institutefor physical rehabilitation opened.

1994Partners in Health Mobile Health Unitwas purchased.

1995Quick Care, the treatment center forminor illnesses and injuries, opened.

Mid-90 sThe Medical Center Foundationexpanded fund raising to benefit otherorganizations whose goals are toimprove the health status of the com-munity.

1996 - New Neonatology unit openedand staffed by two board-certifiedneonatologists and nurse specialists.Provides high quality health care forinfants born at risk.

1997New Surgery Pavilion opened: in-patient and outpatient surgery proce-dures were consolidated.

1998Summer 1998-Construction began on anew ER expansion.

1999NGHS received CON approval to builda satellite radiation oncology facility inStephens County, in cooperation withStephens County Hospital

-Freestanding four-room sleep lab forthe diagnosis and treatment of patientswith sleep disorders opened

-Pediatric Care Unit renovation com-pleted

2000 - Medical Center begins plans forOpen Heart Surgery.

2001 - Lanier Park and NortheastGeorgia Medical Center joined togetherto care for the people of our community.

Jennifer Williams, MD, neonatologist

Since it opened in 1951, the Hall CountyHospital/Northeast Georgia MedicalCenter has been governed by the Hos-

pital Authority of Hall County and the City ofGainesville. The Authority owns the hospitaland leases it to Northeast Georgia Health Sys-tem through the Northeast Georgia MedicalCenter.

"The organization has undergone two ma-jor restructurings in its history," says Execu-tive Vice President Henry Rigdon. "Once in1976, when the hospital’s name was changed;and again in 1986. In ’86 NGMC signed the40-year lease agreement with the Authorityunder which we operate today."

That lease agreement lays out specific re-quirements for the way the hospital will be run,ensuring that the hospital operates in a man-ner that meets the community’s need forhealthcare services.

"This is something of an oversimplifica-tion," says Rigdon, "but the current Authoritystructure provides oversight that requires theMedical Center to act in a socially responsiblemanner. The Authority is not involved in day-to-day decisions made by the boards or hospi-tal management so long as the hospital oper-ates within the conditions spelled out in thelease."

The original Authority consisted of LeslieQuinlan, Albert Hardy, Charles Young, Con-rad Romberg, J.W. O’Neal, Gladys Garner, Dr.Lee Rogers, Dr. John K. Burns, J.C. Platt andAdministrator W.N. Walters.

As the hospital grew and the need increasedto improve access to services to people in sur-rounding counties, the hospital restructured toform separate volunteer boards to oversee spe-cific areas of the organization.

"Our current corporate structure is made upof the Authority, Northeast Georgia HealthSystem, and 9 boards," says Rigdon. "Over100 community members serve on thoseboards, volunteering their time to providegovernance for the organization."

The current Authority is made up of BoardChairperson Gwendolyn Mundy, EdD; Dr.Lolita Chappel-Aiken, EdD; James H. Brock,Vice Chairman; Joe S. Hatfield; Jim P. Hen-derson; Louis Propes; John D. Prien, Jr.;Kelvin Simmons; and Jerry Shuler.

"These people also serve on other boardsand committees and like all the board mem-bers, work without pay to help keep our healthsystem on track, growing, and meeting theneeds of our community," says Rigdon.

The operating board is the Medical Centerboard which consists of 12 members: threemembers of the Authority, three physicians,four community leaders and two members of

the hospital’s management team. The boardfor the Parent Corporation (Northeast GeorgiaHealth System) consists of 15 members.Other affiliated boards include NortheastGeorgia Health Resources, Northeast GeorgiaPrimary Care, The Medical Center Founda-tion, Northeast Georgia Health Ventures,Northeast Georgia Health Partners, NortheastGeorgia Medical Center Auxiliary and a 45-member Advisory Board.

The Medical Center, like the Hall CountyHospital before it, is a not-for-profit organiza-tion," explains Rigdon. "We distribute noprofits to individual shareholders. Instead, wereinvest excess revenue back into the com-munity."

Historically, Hall County contributed asmall amount of tax money each year to helppay for the care of indigent patients treated bythe hospital. No other counties have ever con-tributed tax money to the hospital to pay fortheir indigent patient population. In 2000,NGMC received no funding from Hall or othercounties for indigent care or operations.

"It is a misconception that the hospital is orever has been a publicly funded hospital," saysRigdon. "The hospital has always been fundedprimarily by payers - initially patients; and inlater years Medicaid, Medicare and private in-surance. We are, however, publicly account-able."

The hospital has also been supported in partfinancially by philanthropy in the community.From the earliest days of the Auxiliary (whenwomen donated baked goods to raise funds topurchase equipment) to the $8 million HealthyJourney Initiative, the organization has beenstrengthened by the gifts of the community itserves.

One recent example of how board leadersact as stewards for the community’s well-be-ing is their actions prior to the unification with

Lanier Park.Any significant change in operations re-

quires board approval," says Rigdon. Beforewe consolidated NGMC and Lanier Park, wewere operating at full capacity; and facilitiesat Lanier Park were underutilized. In De-cember of 2000 the NGHS Board adopted apolicy statement that clearly shows their stew-ardship responsibilities for the impact the con-solidation with Lanier Park could have on thecommunity."

"They weighed concerns about competi-tion and charges," says Rigdon. "In our cur-rent environment hospitals have very little sayin what we are reimbursed. Most paymentsare predetermined by Medicaid, Medicare andmanaged care contracts. But the board knewthat there would be public concern aboutcharges. There was good discussion and de-liberation before the unification was ap-proved."

The boards also played an active role inbringing open-heart surgery to the community.

"Many similarly-sized communities al-ready offer Open Heart Surgery," says Rigdon."In Rome and Athens, the procedure has beenoffered for several years. The hospital boardnot only approved the significant expenditurethat will go into developing the new service,they also got personally involved in helpingthe hospital justify the certificate of need fromthe state."

Board members wrote letters to the StateHealth Planning organization and many trav-eled with members of the Auxiliary and othercommunity supporters to the Atlanta to helpplead the hospital’s case.

"The Authority and boards’ first concernwas the same as the members of the first Au-thority back in 1951," says Rigdon. "...whatwill best serve the interests of the people ofnortheast Georgia.

Hospital Authority governing body of Medical Center

Georgia s Senator Sam Nunn in 1976 at the dedication of the newly-renamedNortheast Georgia Medical Center.

Mrs. Mary Logan Brown (45-49)Dr. J. K. Burns, Jr. (45-55)Albert Hardy (45-53)Bill O Neal (45-53)J. C. Platt (45-63)Leslie Quinlan (45-51)Dr. Lee Rogers (45-54)Conrad Romberg (45-74)Marshall Stone (45-47)Charles Young (45-55)Mrs. Gladys Garner (49-61)W. A. Black (51-61)George Baker (53-56)

J. M. Lancaster (53-57)Howard Fuller (54-75)Dr. H. H. Lancaster (55-57)Carl Lawson (55-73)Winston Garth (56-59)Broughton Rider (57-65)Lloyd Strickland (57-66)J. J. Norton (59-62)

Tom Blackstock (61-68)Ralph Pope (61-67)Jesse Jackson (62-63)Dr. P. F. Brown, Jr. (63-76)R. L. Swetenburg (63-73)Henry Miller (65-71)James Evans (66-70)

Ross Burnes (67-73)Ralph Cleveland (68-77)Joe Glosson (70-75)Harry Chapman (71-77)Cecil Cochran (73-79)Dr. Henry S. Jennings (73-79)Sam Jones (73-79)F. Eugene Bobo (75-78)Mrs. Nell Wiegand (75-78)Dr. Robert Anderson (76-78)Frank Turk (77-80)Mrs. Louise White (78-79)Richard T. Dale (79-79)

Authority Members 1979-2001Lolita Aiken-ChappelDr. Robert AndersonGene BoboJim BrockMaynard (Yank) BrownCecil CochranDick DaleJimmy DixonJoe HatfieldJim Henderson

Bruce JacksonDr. Henry JenningsDr. Hartwell JoinerRay JonesSam JonesGwen MundyBobby PainterTommy Paris, Jr.Lowell PeacockJohn PrienLouis PropesWilbur RamseyRandolph StrotherJerry Shuler

Kelvin SimmonsJohn StanleyDr. Bob TetherDr. Jack ThompsonJames TiptonRoy TurnerFrank TurkGus WhalenDr. David WestfallNell WiegandLouise White

Cochran

Lawson

Swetenburg

Ramsey

Carl Rhomberg

Hospital Authority Members 1951 - 2001

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n 1964, at the age of 23, John Fergusoncame to the 147-bed Medical Center as

the first hospital engineer in the state ofGeorgia. He held a master’s degree in engi-neering from Georgia Tech. While at Techhe’d played varsity football and baseball, andwas a graduate assistant and instructor.

"John was what wecalled an efficiency ex-pert," says James Gravitt,the hospital’s first directorof purchasing. "As our in-dustrial engineer he was anactive part of the hospital’sbuilding program, and he

was quickly made assistant administratorunder Damon King."

"I saw John sitting at an army surplus deskworking a slide rule," says King. "I met him,worked with him for a while, and saw that hewas a really bright young man who had a lotof leadership potential. I told him I neededsome help and asked him to serve as my as-sistant administrator."

In that position, Ferguson was responsiblefor housekeeping and dietary, maintenance,laundry, security and the industrial engi-neering departments.

King was part of a new guard of health-care administrators and a good mentor forFerguson. The development of Medicaid andMedicare combined with the technologies ofthe Space Age catapulted hospitals into anew era. Together, King and Fergusonlooked for innovative ways to allow the hos-pital to have an operating margin. Until thattime, the hospital used everything they madejust to try to cover costs. King knew that agrowing hospital had to have excess revenueover expenses, so he explored ways for thehospital to recover costs that had been pre-

viously unreimbursed.King and Ferguson’s efforts to create ex-

cess revenues were successful. By the be-ginning of the 70s, the hospital no longercalled on the County to guarantee repaymentof the debt the hospital incurred.

Living up to Damon King’s predictions,Ferguson showed himself to be a man of vi-sion. Ferguson worked diligently to help thehospital acquire needed property and to getcommunity support for expansion.

"Physical growth and community supportreally go hand-in-hand," says Wilbur Ram-sey, a long-time board member. "Sometimesthat is obvious in a real tangible way. Thehospital was originally nestled in a residen-tial area. The people who lived in the housesaround the hospital were their neighbors.Mr. Dyer owned theland near where theOutpatient ServicesBuilding is now. Hewould walk theproperty every day.John would go talkwith and him and tryto persuade him tothink of the hospitalwhen he was readyto sell. When Johnapproached Mrs.Dyer about buyingthe property, shesaid that she saw thehospital’s need butshe just couldn’tmove to Atlanta and leave her beautiful flow-ers. John promised to move any of herbushes that she wanted moved. The Dyerssold the hospital their property, and Johnkept his promise and had the flowers

moved."Ferguson enjoys a reputation as a

likeable leader with a good sense of hu-mor.

"Before the hospital grew to be sobig, John knew every employee, andeveryone knew him," says Gravitt."Several of us used to be part of a hunt-ing club. It was primarily a social gath-ering: we’d eat well, sleep a lot, fish andchat. It gave us a good chance to get toknow one another. John would alsomake a point to move around the hos-pital talking to visitors and employees.

Many times, I’d call him with a question orconcern and rather than call me back he’dwalk over to my office.

"That willingness to make personal con-nections is part of what has made him such agood leader for the hospital."

As the hospital grew, Ferguson becameknown as someone who couldspot talent and build a team ofleaders to help him managethe ever-growing organiza-tion. He hired a young news-paper reporter, LeTrell Simp-son, as the Medical Center’sfirst hospital public relationsdirector and many other man-agement professionals in-cluding Henry Rigdon, Exec-utive Vice-President andJackie Hutchinson, whojoined the organization as aradiology tech who workedher way up through the ranks.Other members of the admin-istrative team who have

served with him for more than half of thehospital’s history include Jack Scarpellino,who joined as an administrative resident andhas overseen every major building project atthe medical center for the past 25 years; andDiane Quinn, Director of Nursing, hasserved with him for decades.

When Ferguson took the helm in 1968,just over 100 babies a year were delivered atthe hospital. The town’s surgeons performed404 operations, and less than 2000 visitswere made to the hospital emergency room.Today more than 3800 babies are deliveredat the hospital each year and ER visits top60,000. Annual net operating revenues havegrown from $3 million to over $220 million.

Ferguson was instrumental in foundingHealth Southeast, a group of hospitals or-ganized for cost-containment efforts and

John Ferguson: a leader of rare abilityFerguson has lead the organization for two-thirds of its history

I

served as chairman of the Voluntary Hos-pitals of America/Georgia, a hospital man-agement services company. In addition, heserved on the Georgia Hospital AssociationBoard of Directors for 12 years. He alsoserved on the board of the Georgia Associ-ation of Not-for-Profit Hospitals and on theGainesville-Hall County’s Chamber ofCommerce. In the early ’90s, Governor JoeFrank Harris appointed Ferguson to serve

on the Commission on Access to Health-care of the Georgia General Assembly. Inthat capacity he worked to develop a pro-posal detailing plans for improved accessto health insurance for all Georgians. In1994, the City of Gainesville presented a

resolution to Ferguson honoring him for 30years of service.

Ferguson is a Fellow of the American Col-lege of Healthcare Executives. He is a Ro-tarian and member of the First MethodistChurch. He has three grown daughters and a12-year-old son, Angus, and 5 grandchildren.

"John is devoted to his family and his com-munity," says Philip Wilheit, board chairman."He has successfully managed a multi-mil-lion dollar business as it has undergonetremendous changes. His record shows himto be a leader of rare ability and character."

Pictured above are several members of administration who have each servedwith Ferguson for more than a quarter century: (l-r) Henry Rigdon, JackieHutchinson, LeTrell Simpson, and Jack Scarpellino.

As the hospital grew, Fergusonbecame known as someone whocould spot talent and build a teamof leaders to help him manage theever-growing organization.

Today more than 3800 babiesare delivered at the hospital eachyear and ER visits top 60,000. An-nual net operating revenues havegrown from $3 million to over$220 million.

17

On September 1, 1951, a beautiful rib-bon hung across the doorway of thenew Hall County Hospital awaiting

a ceremonial ribbon cutting, but Pete Daven-port of Little Davenport Funeral Homes justcouldn t wait. He was transporting an ex-pectant mother, and she was in active labor.

Dr. Garner and I just moved the ribbonsand took her on in, he says with alaugh. You could say I opened theplace!

And hours later, Mrs. Truelove sson, Gerald was born. He was the firstbaby born in the new hospital. Thenewspaper promised many specialgifts for the first baby: a baby swing,valued at $3 from Johnson FurnitureCompany on North Bradford and a sil-ver baby cup from Hoyt Ledford.

Truelove, who now works for Wm.Wrigley, is the proud father of twogrown children who were also born atthe Hall County Hospital.

Joyce Corbin has known all of herlife that she held a special distinctionin the hospital s history books.

I was one of the first babies to beborn in the new hospital, she says.All of my life, I ve heard that I was Num-ber 8 .

Ms. Corbin was born on September 12,1951. She had three older siblings: two whowere born at home and one at Fort Mack dur-ing her father s military service.

Aretired head nurse from Downey Hos-pital delivered my first two, says Girly Hol-brook, Ms. Corbin s mother. After she re-

tired she would go out into the countrysideand help women deliver their babies at home.

With Joyce, I went to see my doctor, Dr.Billy Hardman, and he put me in labor in hisoffice. He sent me to the new hospital, andJoyce was born before he got there! She camereally quick, and the nurses delivered her.

Mrs. Holbrook and baby Joyce stayed inthe hospital for aboutthree days before theywent home. Dependingon the health of the momand baby, sometimesstays were much longer.Women were often keptin bed for days, which ac-tually increased their re-covery times.

Mothers and babiesdidn t room together inthose days, says Mrs.Holbrook. You d haveyour baby and then they dtake it to the nursery.Many mothers were put tosleep for deliveries, butJoyce came so quicklythere was no time for any

type of pain medicine.Some mothers were still being put to sleep

when I had mine, says Ms. Corbin. Both ofher children were also born at the MedicalCenter. Some mothers were put to sleep;they woke up and met their babies.

Also, Ms. Corbin adds, in those dayschildren weren t permitted to visit. When Iwas small and when my children were born,

children would wait outside the hospital un-der the trees.

But by the time Ms. Corbin s grandsonswere born, those small saplings had growninto beautiful shade trees, and things insidethe hospital had changed dramatically.

Three generations of our family havebeen delivered at the Medical Center, shesays. My grandsons Kyle and Joshua wereboth born there. When they were born, theirmoms could labor and deliver in the sameroom. Mothers prepared for childbirth withLamaze or had epidurals for pain. You couldalso keep your baby in the room with you ifyou wanted, and your children could visit anytime during visiting hours.

Since 1951, many technological improve-ments have decreased morbidity rates fornewborns and mothers. Mrs. Holbrook losttwo children after Joyce was born, and Ms.Corbin lost a child as well.

It is a really beautiful place up there now,says Ms. Corbin. The new area has hardwoodfloors and pretty draperies, but the bestchanges are the ones that help babies get offto a good start.

Gerald Truelove, thefirst baby born at thenew Hall CountyHospital, poses outsidethe nursery viewing corri-dor just days beforehis 50th birthday.

Hall County Hospital s first patients have watched hospital grow

Above: Vera B. Sutton was one ofthe first patients at the new HallCounty Hospital. She s shown hereas she is transferred from the oldhospital by Hubert & Billy Bickersof Bickers Funeral Home. Mrs.Sutton, who was a patient of Dr.Valentine s, had been hospitalizeddue to an allergic reaction to peni-cillin. The now 80-year-old lived inNew Holland until several years agowhen she moved to College Park. Girly Holbrook (center/right in the back row) with her daughter Joyce Corbin, who was

the 8th baby born at the new Hall County Hospital back in 1951. Also pictured are her chil-dren and grandchildren, all born at the Medical Center.

We used to say that Dick Striblingcould smell a diagnosis," saysSonya Hancock, current director

of the emergency services department andformer director of the intensive care unit."He was a genuinely gifted physician whocared deeply for his patients."

In the spring of next year, a new diag-nostic heart clinic will open on the thirdfloor of the Outpatient Services Building.The clinic will be built with funds donatedby the community as part of the HealthyJourney Initiative and will be named afterDr. W.D. Stribling. Stribling was a leadingcardiologist who served the community un-til his death in 1998. Friends of Dr. Strib-ling have joined together to support hislegacy through substantial donations to theMedical Center Foundation to make the di-agnostic heart clinic a reality.

Stories about Dr. Stribling’s forwardthinking are the stuff of legend at the hos-pital.

"When Dr. Stribling learned about the in-vention of the defibrillator from a trademagazine, he called up someone in Bostonand ordered one," says Sandra Cantrell, re-tired director of the CCU. "A doctor madeit for us in his basement. It was cutting-edge technology, as big as a filing cabinetwith cables that ran for yards; and it couldsupposedly stabilize an irregular heartbeator restart a heart. It was big news, and Dr.Stribling was elated about what it couldmean for our patients."

"I remember vividly the first time I sawthat defibrillator used," says Barbara Gar-rett, RN, BSN, who was a nursing studentat the time. "One moment our patient was

beyond a point that we couldhave previously helped him.Those were terrible moments foreveryone involved in a patient’scare. But this time the air was ascharged with electricity as thishuge monster we were about touse. Everyone was scurrying get-ting things readyand then there wasan incredible mo-ment when Dr.Stribling shockedhim with the pad-dles. The patient’sheart began beat-ing regularly. Ofcourse, all of ourhearts were racing.

"Just like that, we had incredible newpossibilities. It was the most fascinatingthing I had ever seen."

Dr. Stribling earned his Bachelor of Sci-ence in Chemistry and Biology at theCitadel in 1949. He earned his medical de-gree from Emory in 1953 and completedfour additional years of training at the Na-tional Heart Institute. He came toGainesville in 1957.

"In the early days of my nursing career,nurses were really not supposed to do muchthinking," says Cantrell. "Understand thatthis was before the days of women’s libera-tion. We couldn’t hang a unit of blood orstart chemotherapy treatments, and in theearliest days of the hospital we were noteven to start an IV. But Dr. Stribling be-lieved in us.

"When CPR was proven to be an effec-

tive way to restart a heart andmaintain breathing, only physi-cians were permitted to do it. Dr.Stribling took me into a cleanlinen closet and taught me thetechniques. ’You don’t wait on adoctor,’ he told me. ’You startCPR and keep it up until one ofus can get here.’

"By saying that he showedgreat respect for what nurses

could do. He knew we were here around-the-clock even when physicians could notbe. He helped us believe in ourselves be-cause he believed in us. The bottom linefor him was what would help the patient,and it simply didn’t matter that we were ’just’women."

The new clinic, which will bear Dr. Stri-bling’s name, will offer many improvedservices for the community and is only pos-sible because of the generous support ofpeople throughout northeast Georgia.

"It’s such a fitting tribute," says Cantrell."In another 50 years, the people of North-east Georgia will still be saying his nameand honoring the service he provided. Hewas one of our hospital’s real pioneers."

"I think Dick would be thrilled that wehave progressed so far," says Mrs. Stribling."He would love that this is a working trib-ute, a program that will serve our commu-nity for years to come."

- Congestive Heart Failure ClinicTo be provided to patients free-of-charge, this clinic-within-a-clinic willprovide day-to-day support for peoplesuffering from congestive heart failure.

- Five Echocardiography Rooms withnew echo machines which use soundwaves to show how well the heart mus-cle and valves are working.

-Multi-site echocardiographyPatients will be able to visitNeighborhood Healthcare Centersthroughout the region to be fitted for

Holter and Event Monitors. Data canthen be sent to the clinic’s board certi-fied cardiologist for reading via amodem. This means less travel andgreater convenience for patients experi-encing heart rhythm abnormalities.

- Enhancements and new equipment forCardiac Rehab and the Vascular Lab

- A fully-equipped nuclear imagingroom for isotope testing

- General expanded capacity for cardiactesting & evaluation

- New stress testing and EKG machinesas well as a new defibrillator and fiveblood pressure monitors

- Expanded cardiac catheterization lab-oratory services

- Cardiology screenings and educationprograms

Healthy Journey building Stribling Heart Clinic

Services to be offered through the new Clinic and funded by Healthy Journey gifts:

Healthy Journey to raise $8 million

The W. D. Stribling Diagnostic HeartClinic is only one component of TheMedical Center Foundation s most

ambitious fund raising project to date.Healthy Journey, a three-year initiative thatbegan in 1999, has already raised $4 of its$8 million goal and will support the follow-ing improvements:

¥ Comprehensive Community CancerCenter & Supporting Programs:¥ Targeted Screenings &

Community Education ¥ In-Home Respite Care for Hospice Patients

¥ Expanded cancer care services

¥ Support for the CHOICE Program atSouth Hall Middle School which helps at-risk teens develop healthy self-esteem andwise decision-making skills

¥

Keeping Our Children Healthy & Safe¥ An expansion of the SAFE KIDS

Program, to build safer playgrounds and putneeded safety equipment and informationinto the hands of parents to reduce the num-ber of injuries and deaths due to preventa-ble childhood accidents

¥ School Nurse Program¥ Educational efforts to increase enrollmentin PeachCare for Kids, a state-funded, fed-erally administered insurance program forworking families

Salvation Army Centers of HopeThe 9th Annual Medical Center Open

raised nearly $90,000 to help fund thebuilding of transitional family housing unitsat the Salvation Army s Centers of Hope.Residents in the transitional housing unitscan stay together as a family as parentslearn new job and budgeting skills and getback on their feet.

¥ ¥

CommunityEducationThanks to a generous gift from Jim andPeggy Walters, a new educational auditoriumis already in service at the Medical Center.The auditorium will be used for medical andhospital staff training and for communityhealth education.

To learn more about the Healthy Journey initiative

or to make a pledge, please call

The Medical Center Foundation at770-533-8099.

Jim & PeggyWalters and the

Walters Auditorium

Former Hall CountyHospital AdministratorFred Walker said it well

back in 1965: People point outthat this hospital is a credit to thecommunity, he said. I feel it sreally the other way around. Ithink people of this area are a realcredit to the hospital.

And so it is today. The hospi-tal and the community it servesoperate in a mutually beneficialfashion. The community sup-ports the hospital through serv-ice and financial donations. Thehospital serves the community:delivering our babies, healing thesick and comforting the dying. Itis an endless exchange and through it boththe hospital and the community growstronger.

GOOD NEWSIf I had to name some shining exam-

ples of our best efforts in the communityduring the last couple of decades, one ofthe finest would be the expansion of theGood News Community Health Clinic,says LeTrell Simpson, vice president ofcorporate development. Nurses, den-tists, physicians, and church groups cametogether to serve the underprivileged.Our community s support of Good Newsand the addition of our mobile health uniteven attracted the attention of former FirstLady Rosalyn Carter.

Unlikely local hero Gene Becksteinopened Good News at Noon in 1993 asa soup line and spiritual outreach mission.Many of the people who came to GoodNews needed medical and dental servicesbut were uninsured and uncertain of howthey could get care. As word spread ofBeckstein s ministry, nurses, dentists,physicians and others quietly began tovolunteer their time at the clinic. Retiredphysician Sam Poole, one of the region sfinest cardiolgists began volunteeringregularly at the clinic. Word of the high-quality free care spread quickly and with-in two years the clinic was bursting at theseams.

The Medical Center Foundation agreedto raise $100,000 to convert a storageshed at the mission into four new examrooms, a small lab, waiting room and tworestrooms. Donations began pouring in

almost immediately. By campaign end,gifts had surpassed the goal by 100 per-cent, raising over $200,000.

Two years later, the Foundation sMedical Center Open Golf Tournamentraised an additional $150,000 to build adental clinic at Good News.

MOBILE HEALTH UNITThe mobile health unit, which now trav-

els the roads of Hall and surroundingcounties, is another of the hospital s mostsuccessful examples of community col-laboration efforts.

The van was a joint project of severalcommunity agencies: The Junior League

of Hall County, The Hall County HealthDepartment, Lanier Park RegionalHospital, The Gainesville City and HallCounty School Systems, And the MedicalCenter. In the five years since the unitfirst hit the road, thousands have benefit-ed from services offered through themobile health program. Services range

from childhood immu-nizations to diabetesand heart diseasescreenings.

SAFE KIDSThe community s

efforts to prevent child-hood injury are anothertestimony to what acommunity can do bypulling together, saysSimpson. SAFEKIDS is a coalition ofmore than 20 communi-ty agencies - from lawenforcement to educa-tors - working to lower

the incidence of childhood injury.SAFE KIDS distributes carbon monox-

ide and smoke alarms, life jackets, bikehelmets and child safety seats throughoutthe region. More importantly though,SAFE KIDS provides safety education sothat the community is aware of the risksto children and informed with the knowl-edge they need to use safety equipment.

Last year, the National SAFE KIDSCampaign awarded Northeast GeorgiaMedical Center & Health System thefirst-ever Outstanding Lead AgencyAward.

The best reward is that the programsappear to be making a difference, saysSimpson. Bicycle-related injuries seenin our ER dropped by 54% in 1999-2000,and Gainesville has one of the state shighest rates of seat belt compliance.

LOVE LIGHTS FOR HOSPICESince 1995, the Auxiliary s Love Light

Tree Project has raised over $300,000 forthe hospital s Hospice program.

You can t talk about communityinvolvement and not talk about LoveLight, says Simpson. Each Christmasas they light that tree and a local choirsings carols, we have a beautiful visualreminder of the support we receive fromthe community. Each of those lightsmeans that someone shared from theirown resources to help Hospice care forthe terminally ill.

NGMC: Connecting with the community

Dr. Sam Poole examines a patient at Good News at Noon

continued next page

MEALS ON WHEELSWhen the Seventh Annual Medical

Center Open Committee set its goal of$55,000 to support an expansion of theMeals on Wheel program they knew itwas a worthy project.

We knew we would have goodcommunity support because Meals onWheels is a well-respected agency,Woody Stewart, Development CouncilChairman for the Foundation . But theoutpouring by our community was unex-pected and absolutely amazing!

The tournament raised nearly $85,000to purchase equipment needed to estab-lish satellite locations in North andSouth Hall and eliminate a 180-personwaiting list.

But it didn t end there, saysStewart. Because the tournamentincreased awareness of what Meals onWheels was doing, many hospitalemployees and others throughout thecommunity began volunteering todeliver meals.

SALVATION ARMYCENTERS OF HOPE

The following year, The MedicalCenter Open once again chose a localcommunity service agency as its bene-factor. Raising over $90,000 ($30,000above the $60,000 goal) the Foundationhelped The Salvation Army build tran-sitional family housing units so thatfamilies in need will have a place tostay while they get back on their feet.

For years to come, when families in

need turn to The Salvation Army forshelter, training and support, they willstay in housing that was built by TheMedical Center Foundation through thegenerosity of our community, saysStewart.

PHYSICIAN ATHEALTH DEPARTMENTThrough a portion of its Indigent CareTrust Fund dollars, the Medical Centerprovided a physician at the Hall CountyHealth Department. The nurses at thehealth department have always done agreat job, says Simpson, but theywere limited in what they could providewithout a physician on staff. Usingmonies from the Indigent Care TrustFund we were able to make a realimpact in the quality of care availableto our indigent population.

HEALTHY HALL PARTNERSHIPThe Medical Center Foundation,

through the Community BenefitsDepartment, funded a community needsassessment to determine the unmethealth needs as they relate to socialissues in Hall County. The 28-personvolunteer steering committee shared theresult of their assessment in 1999 andsince has been working on a plan toimprove the overall health of our com-munity.

Healthy Hall s efforts focus on threemain areas:

¥ HealthWise - working to develop a

partnership plan to provide basic healthservices to those without insurance thatcannot afford basic medical care.

¥ Education Pays - working with cityand county curriculum teams to find away to infuse real life skills into thecurriculum in grades K - 12 to lowerdrop out rates.

¥ CHAIN (Collaborative Health andInformation Networking) - joiningranks with United Way s Informationand Referral Committee to promoteHelpLine, a newly formed informationand referral number to better link citi-zens with the programs and servicesthey need. This committee has a long-term vision of providing a 211-infor-mation service to the citizens of HallCounty.

Results from the needs assessmentalso gave the Foundation the frame-work for the Healthy JourneyInitiatives, says Simpson.

continued from previous page

A special thank you.... to the 50th Anniversary Committee members

for all their hard work in planning the 50th Anniversary Celebration. Committee members include: Dr. John K. Burns, III; Dr. Henry Jennings, Dr. Hamil Murray, Miriam Sellers,

Mary Emma Stribling, Peggy Walters, Nell Wiegand, Lynne Allen, Ruth Allison, Sharon Freeman, Martha Hemphill, Margie Moon, Anita Scott, Veran Smith, LeTrell Simpson, Cathy Bowers. Thanks also to Susan Daniel for her

work in preparing the copy for this tabloid.

2

HENRY FORD HOWARD, HOUSEKEEPING & LAUNDRY

The Rev. Henry Ford Howard wasone of the hospital s first employeesand remembers well the day the hospi-tal opened.

I was there before they moved inthe first piece of equipment, he says.On September 1, they brought in the

patients from the other two hospitals. Itwas a big day.

Mr. Howard worked in laundry andhousekeeping until he retired from theorganization in 1979.

It was a great place to work, andJohn Ferguson had a lot to do with theway employees enjoyed their work. Hehad a head on his shoulders; I ll tellyou that.

JAMES GRAVITT, PURCHASING

Eighty-one year old James Gravittjoined the hospital as a young man just6 weeks after it opened.

I was working in a local drug storewhen they called and asked me to cometo the hospital, he says. I was overmaterials management and acted ascontroller. Those were the days beforeair conditioning and before hospitalshad access to the funds they needed tobuy necessary equipment. It was a con-tinual balancing act, but it was my jobto help make sure each purchase wemade was a good value. People used totease me about being a penny-pincher.They d say I guarded the hospital smoney like it was my own. They were

right. I did. I had been entrusted witha big responsibility, and I took it seri-ously.

Mr. Gravitt was instrumental inhelping form one of the first GroupPurchasing Organizations: GeorgiaHospital Shared Services. He was onthe original committee and board ofdirectors.

Combining our purchasing powerwith other hospitals gave us leverage innegotiating prices, he says. Duringthat first year alone, we saw a dramaticreduction in our costs for IV fluids andother major expenditures.

MARTHA HEMPHILL, EKG

The hospital is really the onlyplace I have ever worked, says MarthaHemphill who joined the hospital in1957. I worked on the floor, was award secretary, and then went to workwith Dr. Murray in the lab. Fromthere she moved into EKG and afterseveral promotions, has worked thereever since.

The people I have worked withtaught me things I rely on every day.Drs. Stribling, Jennings and Poole, Drs.Valentine, Johnson and Bloodworthwere our teachers. There is no way thatI can overstate the contribution SamPoole made to our cardiology program.He started the cardiac care unit. Hetaught us all, shaped the way care isstill given in the CCU, and mentoredscores of students through his workwith the Hall School of Nursing. Hegave me incredible opportunities and

helped me grow. They called us thePoole girls. And even though heretired years ago, when he calls, wejump. He commands that kind ofrespect. It isn t tied to any power thatcame with being on the active staff .

MARIA FISK, LAURELWOOD

I joined the hospital in the Summerof 1987 to help begin preparations forthe planned adolescent program, saysMaria Fisk, manager of the AdolescentUnit at Laurelwood. We were stilloperating out of the west wing on themain building s fourth floor. That pro-gram had begun in 1971 with 27 beds.

When we opened Laurelwood inJanuary of 1988, it was big news. Wewere able to add the adolescent pro-gram and expand our mental health andchemical dependency programssubstantially.

In the 14 years I ve been here, wehave seen dramatic changes in mentalhealth treatment. Changes in reim-bursement have closed many privateand state run facilities, so our patientpopulation is sicker than when weopened Laurelwood. The challengesare greater because lengths of stay havebeen shortened - but that s true in themain hospital as well. There are a lotof challenges so we have to stay on ourtoes, looking for new ways to do things.

We ve also seen the introduction ofmany new medications for treatingmental illness that give patients a hopethat they would not have had years ago.

SALLY GROSE,NUTRITION SERVICES

Sally Grose, nutrition services,joined the hospital in the mid-70s, buther family ties go all the way back tothe beginning of Hall County Hospital.

My dad, Hart Jointer, MD, was onthe medical staff from 1929 to 1988,she says.

I joined as a nursing assistant upon the fourth floor when surgery wason that floor. Then I transferred downto dietary and have been here eversince.

Grose has worked on the patient

Reflections from and about NGMC employees

trayline, in the main cafeteria, and nowkeeps the dessert bars stocked.

We have come a long way, shesays. We started in a small room nearwhere the service elevators are now.We ve had several renovations andadditions and now take up most of thisside of the basement s west wing. Ittakes a lot of room and a lot of peopleworking together to prepare threemeals a day for every patient and torun the cafeteria for staff and visitors.

RUTH ALLISON, RN, SHORT STAY SURGERY AND

ENDOSCOPYWhen I started nursing back in

1962, we were a small hospital; andtoday we are a large medical hub. In62, we had two RNs in the entire hos-

pital: one was the supervisor and theother worked in OB. Everyone elsewas an aide or an LPN. Now, we havehundreds of RNs.

I work in a progressive atmos-phere where everyone is working tofind better ways to deliver care. Thereare so many employees who have been

here as long as Ihave or evenlonger. Thatsays a lot aboutthe managementand the organi-zation s philoso-phy. I m proudto be anemployee here.

Pat Allenas a nursing student at the

Hall School of Nursing

Darlene Nix,current director of surgery

Bill Greene & John Ferguson