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Monday, Oct. 26, 2009

Faces and places: Smith completes doctorate program

Susan Reisinger Smith, CEO of Regency Hospital of Central Georgia, completed the doctorate program in health administration through Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Mich., graduating in August. The objectives of this applied doctorate program are directed toward preparing individuals with the theoretical foundations, applied skills and practical expertise required for leadership positions within the health-care industry.

Smith’s dissertation was titled: “The Role of Comorbidities in Length of Stay and Cost of Care for Prolonged Mechanically Ventilated Patients in the Long Term Acute Care Hospital Setting.” She publicly defended her dissertation to committee members of the university and guest listeners from around the country June 11 at the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, with GSU College of Public Health faculty in attendance also. Committee members were Dr. Bernie Kerr, professor, health administration division (dissertation chair); Dr. Larry Fulton, operations researcher, Army Medical Department; adjunct faculty of the Army-Baylor Graduate Program in Health and Business Administration; adjunct faculty of the CMU DHA program; Dr. Jerry Ledlow, associate professor of health policy & management, Georgia Southern University; and adjunct faculty of the CMU DHA Program .

Hall tapped for Ga. Farm Bureau post

Hall Harden is the new senior director of sales for the Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Cos., effective Aug. 17. Harden began his career with Georgia Farm Bureau in 1992 as an insurance agent in Worth County before moving to the North Fulton County Farm Bureau in 1995. He was promoted to estate planning specialist in 1997 and then to his most recent position as a district sales manager in 2000. Immediately before his promotion, Harden was managing insurance sales in the 10th District and part of the 8th District, overseeing a territory of 22 county offices, 70 agents, 60,000 members and $63 million in property and casualty premiums. Before joining Georgia Farm Bureau, he worked for State Farm Insurance and Jefferson Pilot.

Sixteen complete WR leadership class

The Leadership Warner Robins program has concluded its 2009 year with the graduation of 16 community and business leaders at a graduation dinner held Oct. 13 at The Landings Golf Club. Keynote speaker for the evening was Mike Hale, executive director of Macon State College’s Warner Robins campus.

Class of 2009 graduates receiving commemorative plaques and diplomas are: Rayfield Boyd, The Boeing Company; Kevin Clotfelter, Robins Air Force Base; Donna Drummond, Robins Federal Credit Union; Eddie Fresh, AgGeorgia Farm Credit; Laura Hart, Secure Health Plans of Georgia LLC; Lee Insley, A-OK Portables LLC; Carol Jones, Middle Georgia Technical College; Jacqueline McLear, Jackie McLear/Pre-Paid Legal Services; Gary McNutt, JMA Architecture Inc.; April Mouton, Warner Robins Area Chamber of Commerce; Pella Murphy, Macon State College; Daniel Penny, Lockheed Martin Corporation; Tom Prior, Houston County Habitat for Humanity; Elias Rodriguez, Loui Consulting Group; Brandie L. Thompson, AgGeorgia Farm Credit; and Denise Townsend, Flint Energies.

The 2009 Leadership Class had the opportunity to showcase their project for Camp Wings, a bereavement camp for children sponsored by the Heart of Georgia Hospice. The class held several fundraisers, including a yard sale, several car washes and a raffle for a big-screen television to support the camp. The class made a check presentation at the graduation ceremony in the amount of $7,605.44 to Heart of Georgia Hospice representatives April Greenhoe and Lisa Mount. The total financial result from the fundraising effort was more than $12,000. Sponsors who made financial contributions to the class project included JMA Architecture, Robins Federal Credit Union, Health Systems Plus, Middle Georgia Technical College and Wal-Mart Stores, which also donated 50 volunteers for the duration of the camp (Nov. 6-8). Flint Energies, AgGeorgia Farm Credit and the Warner Robins Area Chamber of Commerce also published articles featuring the project and Camp Wings.

Each year, the Leadership Warner Robins Program presents the Dr. Dan Callahan Community Leadership Award. The class selects the recipient of the award. This honor is granted to the student who has shown outstanding leadership during the course of the program. This year’s recipient is Brandie L. Thompson.

Earn recognized for 30 years of service

Vanessa Hester-O’Donnell, warden of Burruss Correctional Training Center, honored James Earn at a departmental meeting for 30 years of faithful service to the state of Georgia. Earn is employed at Burruss Correctional Prison in Forsyth, where he is a member of the maintenance department. The maintenance team received an award for outstanding performance at a recent audit.

Coliseum Medical Centers receives accreditation

Coliseum Medical Centers in Macon received full Cycle III accreditation with PCI from the Accreditation Review Committee on Oct. 3. The accreditation expires Oct. 2, 2012.

“This accreditation further demonstrates our dedication to excellence and quality care to our community. When time is of the essence, our Accredited Chest Pain Center seal can provide reassurance that Coliseum Medical Centers is a hospital you can trust to provide the best possible outcomes in heart care,” said Sheila Gebel, RN, MSN and assistant chief nursing officer at Coliseum Medical Centers.

The Chest Pain Center at Coliseum Medical Centers has demonstrated its expertise and commitment to quality patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria and completing on-site evaluations by a review team from the Society of Chest Pain Centers. Owned by Hospital Corporation of America, Coliseum Medical Centers is part of the Coliseum Health System, which also comprises of Coliseum Northside Hospital and Coliseum Psychiatric Center.