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ecognizing G.R.E.A.T. Ambassadors
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m Work in a hospital setting often holds deep and personal meaning with compelling reasons as to why people have chosen the field of
healthcare. Houston Healthcare was proud to participate in this year's G.R.E.A.T. program, which stands for Giving Recognition for Excellence,
Advocacy and Teamwork, as an opportunity to recognize dedicated healthcare employees and share their inspiring stories to the community.
Houston Healthcare recognized 40 employees during a special luncheon for the G.R.E.A.T. program, sponsored by the Georgia Hospital Association
to celebrate the pride that healthcare employees have in their work and the contributions that they make to their patients, their hospitals, their community
and their profession.
I.aurie Darsey, RN, Houston Medical Center Emergency Department, and Patricia Dent. RNC, Perry Hospital Outpatient Surgery, were selected
as Houston Healthcare's G.R.E.A.T. Ambassadors.
H
County Teens Attend Educational Health Forum
M ore than 2.(XX) eighth
grade students from the Houston
County School System, The
Westfield Schools and Sacred Heart
School attended the 16 th annual
Teen Health Forum on May 11
where they learned life-altering
information about the effects of
alcohol, drug and tobacco abuse,
as well as the dangers of AIDS and
other sexually transmitted diseases.
Sponsored by Houston Healthcare
with funding from Community
Health Works and the Central
Georgia Cancer Coalition, the goal
of the forum was to educate
students about making important
life choices and the consequences
of making the wrong ones.
“We are a sponsor of the Teen
Health Forum each year because
we want to promote wellness in
our community through preventive
health education,” explains Beth
Jones, RNC, Director of
Community Education and
Health Services for Houston
Healthcare. "It is important to start
educating children when they are
most influential so as to encourage
them to have healthier lifestyles as
adults by avoiding unhealthy risk
factors."
According to Frankie Ross,
coordinator of health and physical
education for the Houston County
Board of Education, the students
need to know this information
before entering high school. “We
feel they are mature enough at this
age to realize how poor decisions
can affect the rest of their lives or
even end their life,” she explains.
“/ thank God everyday for the career he has guided me to and for the blessings it has brought me in my life. The experience
has been worth more than any paycheck / have ever received. 1 have laughed, cried and felt every emotion possible - sometimes
all within one shift. It is a privilege to work side-by-side with some of the best people on Earth, people with character, people
with standards of respect and dignity for life. Also, some of the patients for whom I have cared will forever be etched in my
memory ... some good and some heart wrenching. I have been fortunate enough to witness miracles and strong enough to carry
tremendous grief. Although, it has been tiresome at times, I would not trade one memory."
- Laurie Darsey. RNC. Houston Medical Center Emergency Department
"Nursing is more than medicine. Nurses observe more than medical needs and have the privilege of ministering to unspoken
needs. Nurses listen, touch and encourage. We are therefor very private, intimate and vulnerable moments. Nursing is a great
responsibility as patients trust their nurses who are really strangers. When I was working labor and delivery, my mom told
me how, after years, she still remembered the kindness of her delivery nurse. Patients and family members make me so proud
and grateful when they remember or thank me for making them feel cared for. ”
- Patricia Dent. RNC. Perry Hospital Outpatient Surgery
"We want them to have factual
information in order to help them
make wise decisions."
Gayle Bina, Executive Director
of the Central Georgia Cancer
Coalition, agrees. "The decision to
use tobacco is made when people
are teenagers," she explains. "The
Teen Health Forum provides
students and teachers with great
information that will help them
make the decision to stay tobacco
free."
Ross believes that the Houston
County community benefits not
only in health status but also
economically from this type of
health education. "Students who
make wise decisions based on facts
are healthier, happier and more
productive citizens.” she states.
"They are more likely to finish high
school and go on to college. They
are less likely to be victims of
alcohol and drug related accidents;
they are less likely to contract a
sexually transmitted disease or
become pregnant as teenagers; and
they are less likely to suffer from
diseases related to tobacco use. All
of this definitely makes an
economic impact on our
community ... now and in the
future.”
Guest speakers at this year’s
Teen Health Forum included Dr.
Harold Katner, an infectious disease
specialist with the Mercer
University School of Medicine,
who speaks to community groups
and schools about HIV and AIDS.
He attends the Teen Health Forum
each year with his graphic slide
presentations showing the
devastating effects that HIV and
AIDS can have on a person.
Richard Gillespie from
Wapakoneta, Ohio, spoke to the
students from his wheelchair about
the consequences of driving drunk
and not wearing a seatbelt. He was
paralyzed 29 years ago at the age
of 17 when he crashed his car into
a telephone pole at 100 mph.
Jason Respert, former University
of Tennessee football player from
Northside High School where he
is now a coach, told the students
how his dream of playing college
football at the NCAA level was
almost ruined by one night of
drinking while on a recruiting trip
to the University of Florida. As a
result of his drinking that night, he
was accused of sexual assault, his
reputation and character were
questioned, and he lost full football
scholarships from two major
universities.
George Crawford of the Georgia
Department of Public Health's
Tobacco Prevention Program
reminded students about the
dangers of smoking and the need
to be aware of marketing tactics
RE
used by tobacco companies when
advertising to teens. He said that
tobacco companies frequently use
images and celebrities from the hip
hop culture in their advertising to
make tobacco products more
appealing to teenagers.
"The Teen Health Forum is just
one of the many community health
education programs Houston
Healthcare offers." says Jones.
"We feel it is important to the
overall health of our community
that we educate people of all ages
about the benefits of good health
and the means of achieving and
maintaining a lifetime of good
health.”
The annual Teen Health Forum
is a community effort supported by
the Area Health Education Center,
American Cancer Society, Central
Georgia Cancer Coalition, Houston
County Board of Education,
Houston Healthcare. Peachbelt
Medical Alliance and the North
Central Health District.
EDtiCuti’.
A Service of Houston Healthcare
Annual Prostate Cancer
Luncheon
Don't miss our annual prostate
cancer luncheon. Lee Brown.
RNC. FNP. will discuss the
prevention and early detection of
prostate/testicular cancer, the most
common cancer found in men.
Pre-registration is required.
Thursday. September 14
Lunch served from
11:30 am to noon
Guest speaker at noon
Houston Health Pavilion
EduCare Center
Call 023-9771 to pre-register.
Annual Family Fair
Join Houston Healthcare for this
annual event, offering health
screenings and information for the
entire family.
Saturday. August 5
10 am - 2 pm
Galleria Mali Centerville
Call 023-0771 for more
information.
The Diabetic Foot
The number one complication
of uncontrolled diabetes is
foot problems. Dr. Evaristus
Oshiokpekhai. podiatrist, will
discuss the diagnosis and
treatments for this common
problem.
Thursday, July 13
7 pm
Houston Health Pavilion EduCare
Center
Call 023-077! to pre-register.
Ankle Replacement
Dr. Daniel Wagner, orthopedic
surgeon, will present a program
on ankle replacement. Breakfast
will be served. (This is the regular
arthritis support group meeting.)
Wednesday, August 16
Warn
Houston Health Pavilion EduCare
Center
For more information call
923-9771.
Congestive Heart Failure
Dr. Rahil Kazi, cardiologist, will
present a program on managing
congestive heart failure. Lunch
will be served. Must pre-register.
Thursday, August 24
Lunch served from
11:30 am to noon
Guest speaker at noon
Houston Health Pavilion
EduCare Center
Call 923-9771 to pre-register.