Southeast Georgia Health System hosted a topping off ceremony on Friday, Sept. 20, to celebrate the structural phase completion of its new surgical services and inpatient tower. Following a brief ceremony, a white steel beam, adorned with an American flag, a small evergreen tree and hundreds of signatures, was lifted into place at the top of the new Inpatient Tower.

A topping off, or sometimes called a topping out, ceremony has European origins but is also part of American construction and building culture. Originally, structures were created out of timber and the last beam added was adorned with a small tree. The tree symbolized the structure going up without a loss of life and is a symbol of good luck for future occupants.

A modern topping off also includes an American flag—a tradition that dates back to 1919 and started by U.S. steel ironworkers during the “American Plan Period,” showing loyalty to flag and country. The steel beam is usually painted white and includes the signatures of the construction workers and those attending the ceremony. Its white color symbolizes the skilled craftsmanship and labor to create the beam and construct a building.

“Today’s event represents a major milestone of our Master Renovation and Expansion Project, which remains on schedule to receive our first patients in the fall of 2021,” said Michael D. Scherneck, president & CEO. “I would like to thank our medical staff, team members, volunteers and donors for sharing our vision of being the region’s health care provider and employer of choice. And I am especially grateful for the foresight and support provided by the Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital Authority and the Southeast Georgia Health System, Inc. board of directors. It takes bold leadership on their part to address the needs of today and to balance that with the long-term needs of our community.”

The Health System began the $140 million Master Renovation and Expansion Project of its Brunswick Campus in 2018. With more than 70,000 square feet of new construction and more than 100,000 square feet of renovations, the project will help to ensure the Brunswick hospital can continue to meet health care needs as the communities it serves grow and patient volumes increase.

“We’ve seen dramatic growth in patient volumes in recent years, and we’re dedicated to providing the services our communities need,” said Robert C. Turner, chair of the Southeast Georgia Health System, Inc. Board of Directors. “State of the art facilities like this are clearly what’s needed. And, along with the construction happening now, new advanced technologies and treatments will expand the services we currently offer.”

In addition to a new patient entry canopy, the expansion of the Emergency Care Center (ECC) will add 15 exam and treatment rooms for a total of 50, including two trauma rooms. To accommodate the new rooms, the ECC will expand by more than 12,000 square feet. Renovations to the remaining 22,900 square feet will provide better patient and staff flow.

“Our sincere appreciation to the Thomas & Mildred Beach Trust for their generous gift of $4.7 million to help pay for the enhancements to the Emergency Care Center,” said Scherneck.

The expansion of the second floor (overlooking Parkwood Drive) will accommodate the new Surgical Services Tower, with 16 new operating rooms, endoscopy suites, a post-anesthesia care unit, and pre- and post- recovery bays. The existing Surgery Department renovations will accommodate new Central Sterile Processing and support areas.

The new inpatient floor will include 32 private, spacious patient rooms, each of which will include a window. Patient room design features will maximize privacy for the patient and family, visually and acoustically, and promote patient independence. Nursing station designs will minimize travel distances between rooms, increase observation/visual control and improve communication.

The project also includes plans to renovate many of the existing inpatient rooms on the St. Simons Tower to increase space, comfort and privacy.

To accommodate the increased square footage and additional patient care services areas, more energy efficient upgrades to the Central Energy Plant and a new mechanical penthouse are included in the expansion. Entrances and parking will be updated as well, including a new main entry to the Health System, a two-story lobby and covered parking at the Parkwood Drive entrance.

“Southeast Georgia Health System has transformed in the last 25 years into one of the best health care systems in the state, and this project is the next step in that evolution, really a revolution, of building one of the finest hospitals in Georgia,” said Valerie A. Hepburn, Ph.D., chair of the Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital Authority. “A health care system is the center of economic development and prosperity in a community. You don’t attract new businesses, you don’t attract retirees, you don’t retain and grow organizations without a great health care system. So we’re central to what makes Glynn County and Brunswick, and our neighbors in Camden, Brantley, Charlton, McIntosh and Wayne, really thrive.”

The Master Renovation and Expansion Project is possible through tax-exempt revenue bonds and the generosity of donors. In addition to the Thomas & Mildred Beach Trust $4.7 million to help pay for the ECC expansion, the Health System Foundation committed $4 million to the project and is conducting a 20-20 Vision Campaign with a goal of raising an additional $4 million, for a total of $8 million. To date, more than $5 million has been raised, which includes a $500,000 donation from the Health System’s Volunteer Services.

“We’re really excited about the future of our health system,” Scherneck said. “This project is an example of our commitment to meeting the future needs of our community.”

Scherneck added, “A special thank you to our construction team for working diligently day in and day out to minimize the level of disruptions and noise that our patients experience. Their accomplishments are noteworthy, particularly in light of the interruption caused by Hurricane Dorian. And I would also like to thank them for maintaining appearance of the worksite and being respectful of our neighbors.”

For more information about the 20-20 Vision Campaign, visit //sghs.org/give or wearethefoundation.org, or call 912-466-3360.

About Southeast Georgia Health System
Southeast Georgia Health System is a not-for-profit health system comprised of two acute care hospitals, two long term care facilities, three immediate care centers, five family medicine centers and numerous employed physician practices. The Health System has multiple outpatient specialty care centers, including the only CyberKnife^® Program in the region and one of only four in Georgia, and a Cancer Care Center accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. For more information, call 855-ASK-SGHS (855-275-7447) or visit sghs.org.

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Hamilton Medical Center, part of Hamilton Health Care System, recently began using a procedure called EKOS to treat pulmonary embolisms (PE), allowing patients to receive the advanced care close to home. Hector Dourron, MD, and Michael Hartley, MD, have performed the procedure.

“We’re very proud to be using this advanced technology at Hamilton,” said Jeff Hughes, cardiovascular service line administrator. “It elevates our capabilities and allows the patient to stay close to home and close to family.”

EKOS, or EkoSonic^® Endovascular System, is the only endovascular device cleared by the FDA for the treatment of pulmonary embolism, a blockage in an artery in the lungs.

Pulmonary embolism affects as many as 600,000 people annually and carries a high rate of mortality.  It is a condition where one or more clots break off or travel from existing venous clots in the legs or arms and travel in the circulation, getting trapped in the lung, where they block the ability of blood to get oxygen in some areas of the lung. 

EKOS is intended to treat sub-massive pulmonary emboli, which make up 45 percent of pulmonary embolism cases.  In sub-massive pulmonary emboli, the right side of the heart has a difficult time pumping blood and can quickly become larger than the stronger left side of the heart, which, if not treated, can cause the right side of the heart to fail.  EKOS, used in conjunction with a thrombolytic drug, dissolves clots and restores healthy heart function and blood flow. EKOS also allows the physician to use a much smaller dose of clot busting medication, making treatment much safer by greatly reducing bleeding risk.  EKOS can also be used in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

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The Georgia Society for Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations (GSHMPR) recently awarded its annual healthcare marketing and public relations awards. South Georgia Medical Center (SGMC) received three awards in this statewide contest for its marketing efforts.

SGMC received the Gold Target Award in the “Radio” category for its “March Madness Vasectomy” campaign, Silver Target Award in the “Digital/Online” category for the health system’s “Know, Then Go” campaign and Silver Target Award in the “Television” category for its “Dear Community” campaign.

Entries in this year’s competition were judged based on creativity, layout and design, functionality, message effectiveness, production quality and overall appeal. Georgia hospitals submitted entries in 26 various public relations, marketing, design and advertising categories ranging from Social Media Marketing to Print Advertising.

“We are honored that an outside agency of our peers has recognized the efforts of our team,” said Erika Bennett, Director of Marketing. “We are specifically proud of executing the ‘Know, Then Go’ campaign which is still active. This campaign educates and guides patients to choose the most appropriate care based on the acuity level of their injury or illness.”

To learn more about that campaign, visit knowthengosgmc.org.

The purpose of GSHMPR is to increase understanding and support of health care institutions and their services through the stimulation of ethical public relations and marketing methods and to strive to raise levels of knowledge and standards in health care marketing and public relations.

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Hamilton Medical Center, part of Hamilton Health Care System, recently became the first in the U.S. to use PrisMax, an advanced kidney therapy system to treat critically ill patients.

Developed by Baxter International, the technology was designed with real-world input from more than 650 healthcare providers around the world, the PrisMax system offers innovative technology used in the intensive care unit (ICU) to treat patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), which can be life-threatening.

“Hamilton is excited to be using this new technology,” said Elwyn Clark, DO, medical director for critical care at Hamilton. “This system will help up us provide advanced care for patients who are critically ill and keep them close to their families and support systems.”

PrisMax is a type of continuous renal replacement therapy, designed for patients who have injuries to or problems with their kidneys but are too sick to undergo regular dialysis. “This therapy can spread dialysis treatment out over 24 hours instead of three to four hours, making it much more gentle for the patient,” said Clark.

PrisMax includes new digital health features that allow hospitals to connect the system to electronic medical record (EMR) platforms. This enables straightforward integration of information from PrisMax to the EMR, allowing ICU nurses to spend less time manually documenting treatment data, while reducing the risk of transcription errors.

“I am impressed by the collaborative and close coordination of care between intensivists and nephrologists at Hamilton,” said Brian Tufts, Baxter’s U.S. lead for Acute Therapies. “The Hamilton team is truly bringing world-class care to a community setting in northern Georgia and Baxter is proud to support their leading patient care approach with our products and services.”

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After a successful first five years, a statewide cancer research consortium has been awarded a six-year grant expected to result in more than $11 million in funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to enroll even more Georgians in important clinical trials.

The Georgia NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) is a collaboration between the two largest community oncology clinical trial programs in Georgia: Northside Hospital Cancer Institute in Atlanta and the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion at St. Joseph’s/Candler in Savannah, and the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education (Georgia CORE) in Atlanta.

NCORP began in 2014 to conduct multi-site cancer clinical trials and cancer delivery studies in their communities. From 2014-2018, approximately 30,000 patients nationwide were enrolled in NCI clinical trials through the NCORP sites.

The Georgia NCORP partnership is one of only 32 Community Sites selected to receive cancer research funding from the NCI for the next six years. Since 2014, Georgia NCORP has enrolled 2,530 cancer patients in clinical trials. It is one of only 10 NCORP networks to receive ‘High Performance” status from the NCI.

“The National Cancer Institute created NCORP as a comprehensive community and academic initiative to provide access to cancer trials, including cutting edge treatment trials, precision medicine, symptom control, cancer prevention, as well as cancer care delivery research, to individuals in their own local communities,” said Northside Hospital Cancer Institute’s Dr. Guilherme Cantuaria, who has served as the principal investigator for this partnership since its inception in 2014. “These studies will have great potential for improving cancer outcomes and reducing disparities in care. We are especially proud that the NCI selection team evaluated the Georgia NCORP capabilities as outstanding.”

“The Georgia NCORP team was one of the most effective groups in the nation at enrolling patients into national clinical trials,” said H.A. Zaren, co-principal investigator for the partnership and medical director at the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion at St. Joseph’s/Candler. “It demonstrates the dedication that the entire team has toward improving cancer outcomes and the optimism that people in Georgia and the nation will have even better treatments to fight cancer. This second grant will help many people, especially minority patients and the medically underserved.”

Georgia NCORP provides Georgians with access to state-of-the-art cancer prevention, screening, control, treatment and post-treatment trials within their own communities. There are more than 100 oncology clinical providers in 41 different locations throughout the state, as well as the clinical trial leadership and research services of Georgia CORE.

“GA NCORP is a unique collaboration that has enhanced the quality of cancer care in Georgia by expanding access to clinical trials,” said Nancy M. Paris, president and CEO of Georgia CORE, which is a non-profit leader in improving the quality of cancer care through clinical research and education. “With new NCI funding we will build on the strengths of committed doctors and cancer centers to deliver research and personalized treatments to those most vulnerable — rural, racial, and ethnic minorities; children and the elderly. Georgia CORE is honored to be a partner in this exemplary statewide effort.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia is ranked 25^th in cancer incidence and 23^rd in cancer deaths in U.S. – and cancer remains the second leading cause of death in Georgia. Among the state’s males, prostate cancer accounts for 30 percent of new cancer cases, with the highest concentration in southwest Georgia. Among the state’s females, breast cancer represents 30 percent of all new cancer cases, with the highest concentration in metro Atlanta. Lung cancer is the second most common among both males and females and is diagnosed most frequently in rural Georgia.

Clinical trials are research studies that involve people. These studies test new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, or treat diseases. People who take part in cancer clinical trials have an opportunity to contribute to scientists’ knowledge about cancer and to help in the development of improved cancer treatments. They also receive state-of-the-art care from cancer experts.

Four additional key cancer programs and Georgia CORE research network affiliates were selected to participate in the Georgia NCORP partnership based on their leadership and track record in community-based oncology research: John B. Amos Cancer Center in Columbus; Harbin Clinic in Rome; Peyton Anderson Cancer Center, Navicent Health in Macon; and Cancer Services at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.

Patients with cancer or increased risks of cancer in Georgia will have access to NCI-funded clinical trials through their cancer physicians at a participating NCORP network site. Through the NCORP network, community physicians will be able to collaborate with the NCI Clinical Trials Network Research Bases (NCTN) and Lead Academic Participating Sites (LAPS) on the development of research studies that impact patients in their communities.

For more information about Georgia NCORP, visit: gancorp.org.

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St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^®for community hospital accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with Joint Commission performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe, high-quality patient care.

Sacred Heart Hospital underwent a rigorous onsite review earlier this year. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with state-of-the-art national standards spanning areas such as emergency management, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership effectiveness, and policies and procedures.

The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts, and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help health care organizations measure, assess and improve performance. The surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

“As a private accreditor, The Joint Commission surveys health care organizations to protect the public by identifying deficiencies in care and working with those organizations to correct them as quickly and sustainably as possible,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital for its continuous quality improvement efforts in patient safety and quality of care.”

“The Joint Commission is the nation’s foremost healthcare accrediting agency,” said Sacred Heart President Jeff English. “Joint Commission accreditation gives our patients and community confidence that our hospital is meeting or exceeding the highest standards for safety and quality in America. I could not be prouder of our employees, physicians and volunteers for making our ongoing accreditation possible.”

St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital is a full-service, not-for-profit community hospital in Lavonia, Ga., that is part of St. Mary’s Health Care System and a member of Trinity Health. Sacred Heart Hospital is licensed for 56 beds and features inpatient and outpatient surgical services, emergency services, medical/surgical inpatient nursing care, critical care, a mother-baby unit, advanced diagnostics, rehabilitation services, sleep disorders center, wellness center, and an occupational health service. Learn more at www.stmaryssacredheart.org.

For more information about The Joint Commission, please visit The Joint Commission website.

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Southeast Georgia Health System will host an RN Hiring Event on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., in the Linda S. Pinson Conference Center on the Brunswick Campus, 2415 Parkwood Drive, Brunswick.

The Health System has several opportunities for RNs, including long term care, maternity, medical/surgical, oncology, orthopaedics, operating room, post surgical, telemetry and flex team. A sign on bonus as well as relocation reimbursement assistance is available for eligible candidates.

Attendees can speak with Human Resources representatives and complete applications during the event to expedite the hiring process. Applicants should bring license verification and proof of identification.

In addition to free valet parking and smoothies from Smoothie King, guided tours of the Health System’s Brunswick Campus will be available.

Reservation and walk-in appointments are available. For more information, call 912-466-3115 or send an email to nurserecruiter@sghs.org.

About Southeast Georgia Health System
Southeast Georgia Health System is a not-for-profit health system comprised of two acute care hospitals, two long term care facilities, three immediate care centers, five family medicine centers and numerous employed physician practices. The Health System has multiple outpatient specialty care centers, including the only CyberKnife^® Program in the region and one of only four in Georgia, and a Cancer Care Center accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. In 2018, the Health System’s Brunswick and Camden Campus hospitals were recognized in Georgia Trend magazine’s “Top Georgia Hospitals” in the medium-sized and small-sized categories, respectively. For more information, visit sghs.org.

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A free class on childbirth is offered at Wayne Memorial Hospital Saturday, Sept 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the hospital cafeteria conference room. This class is ideal for those expectant mothers 25 weeks pregnant or later by the class date. Those interested in registering may do so by calling (912) 530-3118 or (912) 530-3117.

Topics of the class will include the normal process of pregnancy, labor and delivery with an emphasis on conscious prepared childbirth. Stress is placed on a medically safe delivery in the hospital under the direction of a physician. Additional topics covered are infant care and infant feeding. Attendees are encouraged to invite a support person to the class.

Wayne Memorial Hospital, whose mission is to provide high quality health care services to all patients, built a state-of-the-art facility in 2007. It is the third largest employer in Wayne County with 500 employees, 84 beds and is a two-time winner of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals Small Hospital of the Year Award.

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South Georgia Medical Center will be offering its popular “Freedom From Smoking” cessation program at the SGMC Main Campus as part of its ongoing efforts to help smokers kick the habit and live smoke free.

The Freedom From Smoking program features sessions led by trained, certified American Lung Association facilitators who understand the motivations and rationalizations of smoking, and use a positive behavior change approach that teaches people how to become permanent non-smokers. Participants attend six weekly sessions where eight interactive lessons are presented.

The free program begins on Tuesdays, beginning October 1 in the conference room at the SGMC Pearlman Cancer Center.  The classes begin at 6pm and last for approximately one hour for 6 consecutive Tuesdays. It is important for participants to complete the entire series of classes to get the most benefit.

“In this step-by-step program, participants will receive instruction and peer support to help them quit smoking,” says Mary Ann Griffith, RN, smoking program facilitator.

As a special incentive, the $25 program fee is waived for all participants. Visit sgmc.org to register or call 229-259-4022. Space is limited.

According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US, yet millions of Americans still smoke. For more information about smoking and its dangers, visit the American Cancer Society website at www.cancer.org

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September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and South Georgia Medical Center will be holding a free prostate cancer screening on Tuesday, September 17 at 5:30pm at the Pearlman Cancer Center.

The screening will include a lab test for the prostate specific antigen (PSA test) and a prostate exam provided by SGMC affiliated Urologist Dr. Mike Chiang, Dr. Patrick Parker, Dr. Jacek Sosnowski and Physicians’ Assistant Brad Ridge, PA-C.

Pre-registration is required by calling 229-433-4022. Men must meet the American Cancer Society Screening criteria to be eligible for this free program.  As an added incentive this year, screening participants may register for a drawing to win a 55 inch smart television.

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