Caring People. Remembering Scott Shull

Transcription

1 Committed to Caring 2014 Issue No. 1 Caring People Remembering Scott Shull Many who had the pleasure to meet Mr. Scott Shull would argue that he was perhaps the hardest working man that they had ever met. His personality was firm and focused, yet patient and kind, and he was generous in sharing his vast wealth of knowledge with others. When you met Mr. Shull he projected an image of what you see is what you get he was honest, he was real, he was himself refreshing and admirable qualities you do not often see in others. Skilled in planning and building, he was a craftsman both in his professional life and in his hobbies outside of work. Scott began his career in healthcare as a nursing home administrator with experience in social work and retired as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Planning. During his twenty year tenure with the PruittHealth family, Scott was instrumental in growing our organization from one with 14 skilled nursing care centers to one with nearly In This Issue... GHCA RN of the Year Pinnacle Award Winners Tier IV - High Quality Honors Letters of Appreciation 200 locations, providing a wide spectrum of care services. His work enabled us to begin serving short-term rehabilitation patients through the Medicare program and helped add additional services with Part B billing. In 1992, he helped launch United Hospice and administrered the purchase of our first home health agency continued on next page

2 in He facilitated the start of our managed care service lines, including the Georgia SOURCE program, and in 1998, he also oversaw the creation of the PruittCares Foundation (formerly the United Hospice Foundation). He facilitated dozens of acquisitions, supervised the successful completion of many construction and restoration projects, and was a mentor to all. Mr. Shull s hard work was exceptional and inspiring, and through it, we are able to deliver quality care to tens of thousands of patients in need. A lover of nature and an avid woodworker, Scott was never happier than when he could spend time with his sons and grandchildren outdoors. His energy and discipline was remarkable. He would get up before the sun, drive over an hour to the gym, and still manage to be one of the first ones in the office. After a long day he would happily switch out his tie for a pair of blue jeans and tend to the animals on his farm in Watkinsville, GA. He was a proud member of the United States Marine Corps and a veteran of the Battle for Khe Sanh, continuing a tradition of As we approach the 45th anniversary of the company s history, it is remarkable to see how a health care organization that started with a few dozen patients and a single dream has grown to a family of providers with an extensive list of service offerings and an army of staff who cares for and supports over 24,000 people each day. Formerly known as UHS-Pruitt Corporation, PruittHealth has locations spread throughout the southeast and provides an interconnected web of health services. As new locations were added over the years, it became increasingly difficult to demonstrate that not only can we offer skilled nursing and rehabilitation, but we can also a convenient transition to home health, pharmaceutical and provide medical supply, or care management services, to name a few. Our name was changed this year to help our customers better identify that we are an integrated provider with a model of service that was later carried on by his two sons, Nathan and Adam. Scott retired in March of 2012 in order to focus on his health and spend time with his wife, Jennifer, and his family. He fought an intense four year battle with cancer, once again astonishing others with his strength and resilience, and was laid to rest on Thursday, April 3, Upon his retirement, a scholarship was established in his name by the PruittCares Foundation so that others can experience the profession that he spent so many years strengthening and creating a lasting impact. Memorial gifts for Scott can be sent to the Foundation to fund this scholarship in his honor. A New Era of Caring PruittHealth care unsurpassed in many areas. We wanted to offer a clearer picture of what we do and strengthen our identity to match the power of our Commitment to Caring. We are now PruittHealth a quality-focused family of providers who work together to care for you and your health. 2 CARING PEOPLE

3 GHCA RN of the Year Carla Harris, RN and Director of Nursing Services for Christian City Rehabilitation Center, was named the 2013 RN of the Year by the Georgia Healthcare Association. Under Carla s leadership, Christian City has noticed a tremendous improvement in the quality of care provided, as evidenced by improved satisfaction surveys and fewer complaint surveys. The center also received its first deficiency free survey in the history of its 35 plus years, went from a One Star to a Four Star Center, and was awarded the AHCA Bronze Quality Award. Excellent work, Carla! News & Notes Quality Driven & Deficiency Free Congratulations to the following health care centers that received a deficiency free annual survey from July 2013 to March 2014: PruittHealth Crestwood PruittHealth Sunrise PruittHealth Sea Level PruittHealth Fitzgerald PruittHealth Fort Oglethorpe North Carolina State Veterans Home - Kinston Sparks Inn at Christian City Assisted Living Center The Oaks Peake (Assisted Living) The Oaks Bethany (Assisted Living) PruittHealth Bamberg PruittHealth Blythewood PruittHealth Brookhaven PruittHealth High Point BEST NURSING HOMES 2014 Tier IV - High Quality Honors PruittHealth Washington, (Washington, GA) and PruittHealth Savannah, (Savannah, GA) were among several dozen centers across the nation that received recognition for achieving national quality benchmarks unparalleled by most. The American Health Care Association awarded these PruittHealth locations for achieving the goals of all four of the national quality initiatives for health care (Tier IV). These include: safely reducing hospital readmissions, safely reducing the off-label use of antipsychotics, increasing staff stability, and increasing customer satisfaction US News & World Report List of Best Nursing Homes: Christian City Rehabilitation Center Laurel Park North Carolina State Veterans Home Fayetteville North Carolina State Veterans Home Salisbury PruittHealth Barnwell PruittHealth Blue Ridge PruittHealth Crestwood PruittHealth Dillon PruittHealth Elkin PruittHealth Fort Oglethorpe PruittHealth Grandview PruittHealth Moncks Corner PruittHealth Old Capitol PruittHealth Santa Rosa PruittHealth Savannah PruittHealth Sea Level PruittHealth Shepherd Hills PruittHealth Valdosta PruittHealth Walterboro The Oaks Athens (Skilled Nursing) The Oaks Limestone The Oaks at Whitaker Glen - Mayview (Skilled Nursing) 2014 ISSUE 1 3

4 News & Notes 2013 GHCA Quality Award Winners PruittHealth Forsyth PruittHealth Jasper PruittHealth LaFayette PruittHealth Valdosta PruittHealth Washington Laurel Park The Oaks at Limestone PruittHealth Magnolia Manor PruittHealth Lanier PruittHealth Moultrie 2012 AHCA Quality Award Winners Silver: PruittHealth Santa Rosa Bronze: North Carolina State Veterans Home - Salisbury The Oaks at Whitaker Glen PruittHealth Bamberg PruittHealth Lanier PruittHealth Moncks Corner Welcome to the Pruitt Family We are proud to welcome the following locations to our family of providers: PruittHealth Sea Level PruittHealth Marietta PruittHealth Hospice (Anderson) PruittHealth Hospice (Beaufort) PruittHealth Home Health (Pilot Mountain) PruittHealth Home Health (Low Country) New Bern Elks Lodge #764 On November 6, 2013, the PruittHealth Hospice (New Bern) staff presented the New Bern Elks Lodge #764 with a shadowbox containing coins seized from Iraq. The shadowboxes are put together by disabled persons with proceeds benefiting families of fallen troops. Pictured is Nick McFarren, Community Relations Representative at the New Bern office. Safe Delivery On February 12th, a day that has been called the worst snow day on record in years, many nursing staff members who deliver skilled nursing and rehabilitation care at PruittHealth Lanier found themselves stranded in their own homes. With impassable streets and dangerous driving conditions, some of the staff were unsure how they would make it through the ice and snow to help the 117 patients who receive care 24/7. Eager to find a solution that kept everyone out of harm s way, the center called the Gwinnett County Police Department for their expert suggestions. What they did not expect, however, was that the Department was more than willing to personally provide transportation for several members of our staff. We are extremely grateful for our heroes who made several round trip drives in vehicles with snow tires. Our patients very much appreciated their generosity, said Admissions Director Kanisha Dennis. Together we were able to continue providing our residents with the quality of care they deserve, while keeping everyone safe and warm. 4 CARING PEOPLE

5 Home First Helps the Community & Donates to A Worthy Cause The Home First team held a community yard sale in Blue Ridge, GA to help fund Camp Cocoon, a children s bereavement camp held each August. The project was a combined event with participations from Home First, PruittHealth Community Services, skilled nursing centers, Home Health, and Hospice. In addition to proceeds raised from the yard sale, a rocking chair and quilt were raffled courtesy of Home First CRR Marianne Tomashefski (right) who made the quilt, and Home First Blue Ridge Administrator Jane Addison s (left) husband who made and donated the chair. These care champions are shown here with volunteer Patricia Walker (center), Vice President of the PruittHealth Home First program. Together the team raised approximately $900! Thank you to all who made the event a huge success! The administrative staff of Laurel Park showed their Commitment to Caring on December 10th when they hosted a holiday party for all of the residents and their families. The annual tradition included dinner, entertainment, pictures, and even a visit from Santa! News & Notes Pinnacle Customer Service Award Winners: Georgia War Veterans Home PruittHealth High Point PruittHealth Sea Level PruittHealth Dillon PruittHealth Farmville PruittHealth Pickens North Carolina State Veterans Home Black Mountain North Carolina State Veterans Home Fayetteville North Carolina State Veterans Home Kinston North Carolina State Veterans Home Salisbury Parkwood Development Center The Oaks Bethany (Assisted Living) The Oaks Peake PruittHealth Town Center The Oaks at Whitaker Glen The Oaks Carrollton (Skilled Nursing) PruittHealth Bamberg PruittHealth Barnwell PruittHealth Blythewood PruittHealth Columbia PruittHealth Elkin PruittHealth Estill PruittHealth Moncks Corner PruittHealth North Augusta PruittHealth Walterboro PruittHealth Orangeburg PruittHealth Rock Hill PruittHealth Santa Rosa PruittHealth Ridgeway 2014 ISSUE 1 5

6 PruittHealth Hospice (New Bern) Honors Veterans This past Veteran s Day, staff and volunteers provided veterans and their families with small treat bags, a hearty thanks and handshake for their service, and a chance to win a $50 gift certificate. Over 1200 treat bags were filled and given away! This project was coordinated by several staff members of PruittHealth Hospice (New Bern), including Community Relations Representative Mary Lou Infinito, Volunteer Coordinator Erin Stephenson, and Director of Health Services Dianne Brideson. Volunteers who assisted with the project were Georgie Jackson, Nicole Edwards, Sara Smith, Jeff Schulze, and Angela Okell-Watson. Pictured from left to right: Mary Lou Infinito, Jeff Schulze, Dianne Brideson, Lori Kimball, Chuck Kimball, and Aimee Schulze. Voulnteers of PruittHealth Hospice (New Bern), Angela Okell-Watson and Jeff Schulze. A Remarkable Recovery C.N.A. Gail Burton was busy working in the shower room at The Oaks - Scenic View (Skilled Nursing) when she was suddenly hit with a terrible headache. She walked out to the nurses station to see if someone could give her a Tylenol, and things took a turn for the worst. The responding nurse quickly noticed that Gail s face was drooping slightly and that she was showing signs of a stroke. Gail s condition began to deteriorate quickly as she was suddenly not able to verbalize or even make simple movements on her own. Our attending staff called 911 immediately, and the nursing staff and management handled the crisis with the utmost care and professionalism as they waited for hospital transport to arrive. Ms. Burton s fellow partners were terrified for her safety, but they stayed calm and took the correct steps to save her life. She was given an estimated recovery time of 9-12 months, but Gail explains that it was her family at The Oaks - Scenic View (Skilled Nursing) that kept her fighting for a full recovery. She made a remarkable recovery and amazingly, returned to work in a mere 2 months! Gail will tell everyone that if she had been at home when illness struck, she would have just lied down and went to sleep, and that if it were not for her coworkers, she would not be alive today. 6 CARING PEOPLE

7 Falcons Players Rally for Young Hospice Patient 24-year-old Chavis Harrison was admitted to Peachtree Christian Hospice (PCH) for complications from a motorcycle accident that caused extensive bodily damage, including quadriplegia. Upon admission to PCH, the team learned that Chavis was a life-long Falcons fan who had played football from the time he was four until he was 17 years old. During a team meeting, a Social Worker mentioned how great it would be for some Falcons players to come visit him. Knowing the challenge of making any arrangements during the NFL season, PCH Administrator, Natalie McNeal, placed a phone call to Brian Finneran, retired Falcons Wide Receiver and loyal friend of PCH, to pursue a visit. With Finneran s help, the Falcons administrative team responded within hours and arranged for Dominique Davis #4, Quarterback, and William Moore #25, Safety, to visit Harrison! Attired in a Falcons hat and jersey and accompanied by his mother, Harrison was prepared and excited to meet members of his revered Falcons team. The players brought an official Falcons football along with other Falcons gear to sign and give to him. The men chatted about the game, and before they left, both players relayed to Harrison that they would lift his name in prayer with the entire Falcons team before the next game. Later that week, Chavis was excited to get a second surprise when Brian Finneran also came to visit Harrison bringing gifts and spending time with him, discussing Harrison s high school career, as well as Falcons football. Both visits lifted his spirits noticeably, and it was an honor for the PCH staff to be a part of that. PruittHealth - LaFayette Resident Turns 107, Shares the Key to a Long, Happy Life Family and friends of Ms. Lillie Mae Steward joined the staff at PruittHealth - LaFayette at the end of September as she blew out 107 birthday candles at a huge birthday bash! An accomplishment very few can brag about. Born in 1906 in Flintstone, Georgia, Lillie Mae is best known for her big smile and her humor, both of which are very contagious. She grew up on a farm in Summerville, and when asked about what she remembers most about her early years, she answers with a laugh, Getting a lot of whippins! Laughs aside, Lillie Mae spent her early years working hard. As one of four daughters, there were no boys to work on her father s farm. Everything to do in the field, I did it. As she got a little older she then spent the next 40 years working as a housekeeper, and while she never had children of her own, she was a nanny to other children. They (are) grown and married and (have) children now. And they ll say, Lillie Mae, I wish you was able to take care of my children like you took care of me, says Steward. Besides offering smiles, Lillie Mae has advice for living so long. Just pray every once and a while. Pray. Ask the Lord to forgive you of your sins. I know I sin sometimes through the day, she says with a laugh. I ask the Lord to forgive me! Lillie Mae has outlived a lot of her family, but longevity is a part of her genes. Lillie Mae s mother lived to be 99, and her aunt lived to be ISSUE 1 7

8 Second Place Win, First Place in Our Hearts In an effort to better reach out to the community, PruittHealth Hospice (Blue Ridge) entered their local parade with a PruittHealth Hospice Memorial Float. The front of the float featured a banner that said United Hospice 20th Anniversary as 2013 completed 20 full years that United Hospice has served the Blue Ridge, GA community. We invited the families of some of our patients that have passed away to hold a picture of their loved one and ride on the float. The theme of the parade was What We Stand For, so the team came up with some things they hope the community thinks about when they hear United Hospice. Posters proudly displayed the words Dignity, Family, Compassion, Peace, Memories, and Comfort across the back of the float so that people could read the words as the parade passed by. And for an extra treat - small candy packages that included a flyer for our local Camp Cocoon were passed out to children along the route. Partners and volunteers were proud to be able to honor several past patients and their families, as well as some of the staff s families that have passed away. They aim to shatter misconceptions and invite the public to associate the compassion of Hospice services with something good. When it was announced the float had won second place, everyone was elated! There were high-fives, cheers of joy, and even a few victory dances. Overall, the best part of the event was definitely seeing members of the audience tear up and begin clapping as we passed them. Many people mouthed thank you, or stopped a partner to hug them, and thank them for what they do every day. People cheered for our patients family members, and others clapped for the images of those that have passed away. It was truly a great experience, and our patients and families were definitely the first place winners that day. 8 C A R I N G P E O P L E

9 Bamberg Fall festival I am so very proud of our facility. We had a great Fall festival on October 26th, complete with a garage sale, face painting, pumpkin painting, games, cotton candy, popcorn, door prizes, candied apples, and more! It was a great way to bring our community together and for our partners, patients, and families to enjoy the season. - Deborah Rutland, Administrator of PruittHealth Bamberg Trunk or Treat! PruittHealth - Forsyth sponsored a neighborhood Trunk or Treat for the local daycares and Pre-K students. The majority of the staff volunteered to pitch in and help with the fun filled fall event, and many decorated the trunks of their vehicles to create lots of exciting treat stops for the kids. The residents were thrilled to participate as well, as many were escorted outside to pass out candies to the children, and a few even wore a costume! While outdoors, our administrator, Kim Herron, made sure everyone had what they needed and ensured our residents were drinking water. The Forsyth team is proud and honored at how well we all work together and glad that we were able to bring our residents a unique kind of joy and happiness through this event I S S U E 1 9

10 Goodies, Goblins, and G.R.E.A.T Fun!!! On Halloween, PruittHealth - Dillon was filled with joy and fun as residents, families, and partners welcomed children from the local daycare and volunteer officers from Evans Correctional. This generationally diverse group played games, shared goodies, and had a great time celebrating the fall festivities. Annual Kiwanis Christmas Parade Congratulations to PruittHealth - Blue Ridge for being awarded 1st place for originality at an Annual Kiwanis Christmas Parade in Copperhill, TN. The parade entry was championed by Admissions Director Carol Arnold, and the float itself was designed, constructed, and decorated by Maintenance Director Shannan Wright, the activities department, and other members of the PruittHealth - Blue Ridge family. Safe Delivery at Georgia War Veterans Home Children from the New Beginnings Day Care visited Georgia War Veterans Home before Christmas. They brought gifts and goodies for our veterans and had the opportunity to spend some time on the sleigh with a real Veteran Santa. Everyone loved the company of these special visitors. Their smiles brightened the day. 10 CARING PEOPLE

11 PruittHealth - Blue Ridge Fall Festival 2014 ISSUE 1 11

12 LETTERS OF APPRECIATION PruittHealth - Savannah To the administrative, nursing, and rehab staff at PruittHealth Savannah, your team s dedication, drive, and motivation during my stay gave me HOPE. The staff was very professional and displayed a fine attitude of concern during my stay at the facility. They made me feel important. They were always smiling and went out of their way to solve any issues that I had. This caring attitude made me feel at home. I will definitely choose PruittHealth Savannah if I need skilled nursing care again. took a few minutes out of his day to visit two residents that share a room together (Mrs. Kuncle & Mrs. Bass) and gave them both Easter Bunnies. They are always so happy when Steve visits them, and they were very happy to receive the bunnies. Steve is very Committed to Caring. Kudo Card for Steve Bullard Steve Bullard is an exceptional driver for PruittHealth Medical Supply. He is very caring and attentive to the needs and concerns of each of our customers. Even more so, Steve takes the time to visit residents along some of his stops. His most recent visit was at Laurel Baye of Macon, where he PruittHealth Hospice (New Bern) How can I say thank you in a way that communicates how much your support meant to my family and me. To have people like you who sincerely care about and support us in the most challenging time of our lives is a gift from God. Every single person we met through PruittHealth Hospice brought such love into our lives. With Alva s restrictions to the house, you brought the world to him. You shared your medical knowledge and allowed him to share his philosophy of life, his humor, his love of nature, his childhood stories, and most importantly, his book, which meant so much to him. You did indeed bring great comfort to his last days. You give and you give and you give of your heart, knowing that the journey is destined to be a short one for most. Bless you all. Donna Ange Harris, New Bern, NC A PruittHealth Pharmacy Services customer compliments Driver James Morgan for his kindness and caring actions. 12 CARING PEOPLE

13 PruittHealth - Bamberg We admitted a patient whose husband was no longer able to take care of her at home, despite months of struggling to provide her care. He did his very best, but when the ice storm came through this year, it sent a large tree through their house, forcing him to relocate to his daughter s home and send his wife to the local hospital. The daughter lives a few blocks from our center, and the man admitted her to our care so that he could spend his days with her. Over the first week we noticed that he spent as much as eight hours a day here with his wife, never leaving her side. We never saw him take a break for lunch or bring anything here with him, but the dietary manager noticed him eating nibbles off of her tray when she was done eating lunch one day. She came to me (the Administrator) and asked if she could send him a tray for lunch each day so that they could eat together and so the man would get the nourishment he needed. It broke my heart to know he wasn t eating, and I knew that he would come in before breakfast and stay most days until around 4 pm. So I went to him and told him that we would furnish him breakfast and lunch each day as this would not only make sure he ate right but that the patient would benefit from him eating with her also. The man replied that he didn t much worry about himself, he just wanted to be with her all that he could -- she is his life. Two days later, his daughter came to me in tears and wanted to know whose idea it was for him to eat here. I told her what the dietary manager had noticed and that she and I wanted to make sure they were both taken care of while here. The daughter then said that we had saved his life, as she could not get him to eat much at home, and her fear was that with this, his health would also suffer. She told me that he would only take a few crackers with him here each day, and with all of her efforts, he would not eat before coming in. He also had very little appetite each day at home for supper because he just wanted to be with his wife. She said there was no better place she could have found for her stepmom, and that we had saved two lives when she came here. Her father had eaten better in this time frame than he had eaten in many months caring for her at home alone, trying to do everything for his wife with little concern for himself. So each morning and lunch he strolls her wheelchair to our dining room and they eat together. It is the most precious thing to see both of their smiling faces. Thank you to Susan Poitier, our dietary manager, for taking the time to notice the needs of a family member who needed us as much as his wife. Without her Commitment to Caring for our residents and their families, something so simple would not being making such a HUGE difference. The Oaks - Limestone I have been a maintenance and safety director for nineteen years, but never have I seen a group more Committed to Caring for their patients, as well as one another, than The Oaks - Limestone. When we learned this past winter that a major ice storm was going to hit us, the team united in a way that was truly amazing. Many put their family life aside to come in to work with extra clothes, Caregiver CONVERSATIONS Ginger Baker, LNHA Administrator The Oaks at Whitaker Glen Mayview (Raleigh, NC) What made you want to become a Nursing Home Administrator? I started taking care of my grandfather at a young age, and it instilled in me a passion for the elderly. I wanted to go into long-term care since I was a freshman in high school. Once I graduated from nursing school, I started at Hillside in Wake Forest and remained there for many years, advancing as I got my degree. I moved to Rex as the Director of Nursing and then as Administrator. I wanted to become an administrator because of the broader impact I could make in the quality of care at a facility. What is the most important thing to know in order to run a successful building? Know your staff, and be visible. Do not be afraid to get your hands dirty. If families see you involved and truly believe you care, then all challenges can be overcome. What is one piece of advice you would give to a new administrator? Take it one day at a time, build a strong community of peers, and learn from others ISSUE 1 13

14 pillows, blankets, and personal supplies to weather out the storm and to make sure our residents were well taken care of. It was astonishing to see this in action. Partners slept in offices, on air mattresses, and even the hard floor. Some slept in shifts while others worked. Thank you to all for caring and for being an inspiration. - Michael Dykes, Maintenance Director PruittHealth - Covington Dear Mr. Pruitt, We are writing this letter to let you know the type of care our mother received at PruittHealth in Covington, GA. Morn was admitted into your Covington facility in October of She had been living at Remington House, an independent/assisted living facility in Conyers, GA, for about 6 years. In September, events happened which required her to move to a nursing home. She was suffering from dementia but otherwise was in good health. She was able to function in the assisted living environment and even able to wheel herself to meals, as well as perform other necessary tasks for herself. Because of her dementia, Remington House suggested/insisted that we admit her short-term to a geriatric psychiatric hospital for the purpose of regulating her medications. We agreed, but this proved to be a very bad decision. She stayed at the Eastside Heritage Center in Snellville, GA for 4 weeks, steadily becoming worse with each almost daily change to her mind-altering drugs. In the end, she was totally unable to function as she had previously, therefore needing a nursing home. I have to say that PruittHealth was not our first choice for a nursing home. In fact, we did not even know of its existence, even though we live within 8 miles. The social worker at the hospital tried several nursing homes in the area but was unable to find a suitable one with enough space for her. They evidently did not know of PruittHealth either. She was due to be released but had no place to go. I happened to have an appointment for a physical with Dr. Kevin Lanclos. As I was talking to Dr. Lanclos, I asked him if he had any influence with the staff of Riverside Nursing Home, the one we were hoping would accept Mom. He immediately asked why I would want Riverside when Pruitt s was the best one in the area. When l left the doctor s office, I went directly to PruittHealth and met with Susan Donnelly. She listened to what I needed and assured me they had a place for Mom. She showed me around and really gave me a peaceful feeling. It just felt so right, a feeling of family. We moved Mom to PruittHealth the next day. But we didn t just leave our mother, we went to see her every day, so we saw first hand the level of care she received. We have to tell you that the entire staff is wonderful! We don t mean just the people who directly took care of Mom, we mean everyone. Ken Burnett s office is the first one as you go through the front door. He always greeted us and made sure everything was going well. He also takes up time with the residents. In fact, we think Mom really enjoyed flirting with him. Her nurses and aides had such compassion and treated our mother as they would their own. Some of her specific caregivers were Marcia Clarke, Kitty Jones, Donna Hall, and Danielle Roddy. We could not have wished for Mom to have more loving care. Michelle Martinez, who oversees the activities, personally made sure that Mom was at every activity. Mom loved Bingo and Michelle made sure she never missed. Before Michelle was promoted to this position she was Mom s aide during the evening shift. She was one of the first members of the staff we got to know. When we were worried about Mom, she always made us feel better. We could tell she loved her job and the residents. I think because the facility is smaller than most, it lends itself toward a homey atmosphere. Several times l would find Mom wearing Susan Donnelly s jewelry just because Mom had complimented her about it. The housekeeping staff made a point to know each resident and take up a little time with them. Bonnie Thrasher knows all the residents and their families. She was always willing to help us when we needed something. Anita Rudder was also very helpful. When Mom was first admitted we were taking her clothes home to care for them. But when I saw Cathy Morgan delivering some clothes to Mom s roommate, I was so impressed with the way they looked that we turned that task over to her. There is not a time Cathy saw me that she didn t greet me by name and give me a hug. As Mom lost her appetite the kitchen staff would ask me what she would like to eat. The answer always: Potatoes! Unfortunately, Mom s stay at PruittHealth ended on January 9, 2014 when she went to be with our Lord. Before I was ready to leave for PruittHealth that morning I received a call from Kitty Jones to tell me Mom was not doing well. Our 14 CARING PEOPLE

15 family was there within the hour. Mom was sleeping very peacefully, but we all knew she was not going to wake up again. Diane Payne came to talk to us and explained what was happening. She found other places for Mom s roommate to be for the entire day. She brought us a tray with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and water for us to have. Even though we didn t want any, she tried to bring us food throughout the day. Diane was so good to us. During the last hour we had with our mother, Marcia and Kitty were constantly with us. We felt as if they were a part of our family. Marcia leaned down into Mom s ear and sang hymns to her as she and Mom had sung during the past months. She also comforted Mom and all of us by reciting scriptures to Mom. I have told many people since then that Mom s going home could not have been any sweeter. Everyone knew that Mom was born in Scotland. When she had passed, Kitty and Marcia asked us to leave the room for a few minutes. They bathed her, combed her hair, and put a clean nightgown on her. They changed the bed sheets. When we returned she was lying under her Scottish red tartan blanket, looking so beautiful. The compassion seen in them is truly a God-given gift. But it didn t end there. We were very surprised to see at least 7 members of the Pruitt staff at Mom s funeral. That just reinforced what we already knew, it s not a just a job for them. They care deeply about the residents and their families. Even though Mom is no longer at PruittHealth we found such friends in the staff and the residents that we actually continue to visit. Please let us know if while we are there we can do anything for you. There is no way we can thank the staff of PruittHealth for all they did for our mother. We feel truly blessed to have been part of the Pruitt family during that difficult time. We wish you all well in the future. With great thanks, Margaret s children: Ron Blomberg Debbie Harris Lois Gray From the Editor Caring People Send Us Your Stories Stories of caring, heroism, successes, and events happen throughout the PruittHealth family of providers every day. We know through word of mouth and through your Kudo Card submissions that our partners are doing amazing things for the patients and for the community, and we would love for you to share those stories here in Caring People. So snap a photo, and send it along with information about your event, partner, or patient success story to: [email protected]. If you have any questions please us at the above address, or give us a call: (678) We hope you have enjoyed this issue of Caring People. About PruittHealth Since 1969, PruittHealth has provided management-related services for a spectrum of high quality health care providers throughout the Southeast. Known for its proactive performance improvement programs and holistic post-acute care services, PruittHealth s commitment to caring defines not only what they do, but the culture in which its skilled network of dedicated providers work. With more than 200 service locations in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, the PruittHealth family of providers touches the lives of more than 24,000 patients each day through skilled nursing health care centers, home health agencies, hospice agencies, assisted living facilities, institutional pharmacies, and programs in rehabilitation, nutrition, adult day care, community care, and care management ISSUE 1 15

16 Committed to Caring 1626 Jeurgens Court Norcross, Georgia Phone: A publication (770) of the PruittHealth Fax: (770) A publication Family of of the Providers [email protected] PruittHealth Family of Providers pruitthealth.com pruitthealth.com A publication of the PruittHealth A publication Family of of the Providers PruittHealth Family of Providers (855) pruitthealth.com 3 PRUITT pruitthealth.com