2005 Mercy Award Winner
Logan Regional Medical Center and Guyan Valley Hospital are very pleased to announce that their 2005 Mercy Award recipient is Ronald Joseph 'Ron' Chambers, Director of the Dietary Department.

The Mercy Award, which is given annually, is the highest honor an employee can earn with LifePoint Hospitals, Inc., the parent company of Logan Regional Medical Center.

To be considered for the Mercy Award, nominations are submitted by the hospital staff and then a confidential board of employees is established to make the selection. The Mercy Award winners are selected on the basis of: Consistently going beyond the call of duty in serving patients and the community; Demonstrating a level of commitment and caring that transcends the everyday; Respecting others in everything they do; and Inspiring others with compassion, dedication, and a merciful spirit

"Service above Self" is Ron's motto and he proves this to be true because he never ceases to help others. He always asks, 'What can I do to help", said Kevin Fowler, CEO of the hospital.

One of Ron's nominators expressed these glowing remarks, "I've seen Ron do wonders - he helped over 50 families during the Christmas holiday by seeing they had food, clothing, and heat for their homes. After Ron works his 12 hour days, he then goes to his other vocation. Ron is the associate Pastor of The Covenant Fellowship Church in Logan. He preaches at his church every 3rd Sunday, teaches Sunday school and coordinates the church's relief efforts to help those less fortunate."

Another employee had this to say, "Several years ago there was a family who needed to have their house repaired. The family had no money, so Ron worked with area churches and PRIDE (Progressive Rejuvenation Improvement Development Enterprise) to see that they got what was needed. As a result, they received a new roof, insulation, new floors, new dry-wall and new carpeting - Ron paid for a good majority of it out of his own pocket."

Ron has been affiliated with Logan Regional since 1984 when he managed 'The Arbor' and was the hospital's Special Function Director. In 1989 Ron was promoted to Manager of Food Service and in 1990 to Director of Dietary Services.

Ron attended WVU and graduated from Florida International University's School of Hospitality with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Prior to joining the hospital staff, Ron was the Owner/Proprietor of the Lakeway Hotel in Meade, Kansas. Ron is a member of the National Society of Healthcare Food Service Management.

"We're very proud to have Ron Chambers as one of our excellent employees and as our Dietary Director. Ron's life is filling bellies with food and the body with the Holy Spirit. Ron truly exemplifies the humanitarian spirit by consistently going beyond the call of duty in serving patients and the community. He inspires all of us with his compassion, dedication, and spirit. He is a man whose life is inspired by Proverbs 2:21 'A Good Name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold," said Fowler.

The Mercy Award, which was created in 2001, was created to honor outstanding employees who best represent the legacy of Scott Mercy (1961 - 2000) - LifePoint's founding Chairman and CEO. Scott Mercy's hallmark was his warmth, sense of humor, and dedication to living a full life, in and out of the office. He inspired others with his strong sense of purpose and commitment to high standards of care-giving excellence; a belief defined in his 'Seven Ports of Life' - spirituality, family, career, recreation, civic activities, and self-development.

Doctor's Day, March 30, 2005

On Wednesday, March 30, 2005 a breakfast was held in the 5th floor conference room at Logan Regional Medical Center to honor all of the physicians that practice at Logan Regional Medical Center and Guyan Valley Hospital. "We have a superior staff of physicians. We are very proud to have this exemplary Medical Staff practicing in our community and particularly at our hospitals" stated Kevin Fowler, CEO of the hospitals.

A History of Doctors' Day
Doctors' Day began on March 30, 1933 when Eudora Brown Almond, wife of Dr. Cha Almond of Winder, Georgia decided to observe the anniversary of the first use of general anesthetic in surgery. This first surgery incorporating sulfuric ether was used by Dr. Crawford Long from Barrow County, Georgia to remove a tumor from a patient's neck for the first time on March 30, 1842.

The Barrow County Medical Society Auxiliary proclaimed the day - March 30, 1933 to be 'Doctor's Day'. Cards were sent to the physicians and their wives and flowers were placed on the graves of deceased doctors, including Dr. Long.

In 1940 the U. S. Postal Department honored Dr. Long with a commemorative stamp. The United States House of Representatives adopted a resolution commemorating Doctors' Day on March 30, 1958. Legislation was introduced in the House and Senate to establish a National Doctors' Day in 1990. With overwhelming approval by the House and Senate, then-President George Bush, Sr. signed a resolution designating March 30 'National Doctors' Day'.

The staffs of Logan Regional Medical Center and Guyan Valley Hospital want to thank all of our Physicians for their continued dedication and loyalty to our hospitals and to our community.

National Volunteer Week, April 17 - 23, 2005
Happy Volunteers' Week to all of our Volunteers here at Logan Regional Medical Center!

Who are these shining stars that are so selfless that they 'Take Time to Care'? They're the people that look to give rather than receive and expect nothing in return. Knowing that they've helped someone is enough appreciation for them. Together they make a difference for the hospital patient and their families and for the hospital staff. They come to work everyday simply for the reason of helping others because they give from the heart - and it shows to everyone. Our volunteers are truly a blessing because they go above and beyond to put a smile on someone's face, direct them to the correct department, bring flowers into a patient's room, and many other things that reflect the goodness that is within. Volunteers brighten others' lives.

We are proud to have such a strong staff of over 90+ wonderful volunteers. You are a gift to us and to our community

Thank you for all that you do and for being our shining stars.

Hospital Week, May 8 - 14, 2005

To celebrate National Hospital Week this year, May 8 - 14, Logan Regional Medical Center and Guyan Valley Hospital will host these events in honor of their employees: Monday - Cookies and punch serve in the 1st floor lobby (all employees wear Blue); Tuesday - "Afternoon Delight"- serve ice cream with sprinkles and other toppings - held in the cafeteria (all employees wear Yellow); Wednesday - Free breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the cafeteria (all employees wear Green); Thursday - Nurses' Day Tea in the Cafeteria and in the 5th floor classroom - (all employees wear Purple); Friday - Cookout on the hospital campus (all employees wear Red). In addition to the above the hospitals will have gifts for each employee.

National Hospital Week, held annually in May, is a time to celebrate and honor all hospital employees for their hard work and dedication to the hospital and the community. "A Calling to Care", the inspirational theme for 2005, recognizes the faces of the many talented and gifted people that take our health care system to new heights of excellence.

National Hospital Week had its beginning 84 years ago and has become the nation's largest annual health care event. In 1921 when hospitals were first opening their doors to the public eye, no one knew what to expect when curious -- and sometimes skeptical visitors -- were allowed a glimpse inside of a world they knew very little about. As it turned out it was one of the best things that every happened to health care.

Logan Regional Medical Center and Guyan Valley Hospital are very proud to have some of the most talented and dedicated personnel of any hospital in the United States. "The staffs of over 700, working together, raise the bar on their commitment and compassion to each and every patient," said Kevin Fowler, CEO of the hospitals.

The Administration of Logan Regional Medical Center and Guyan Valley Hospital are "Proud to have YOU as our employees!"

Nurses Week, May 6 - 12, 2005
Logan Regional Medical Center and Guyan Valley Hospital celebrate National Nurses' Week - May 6 - 12, 2005

National Nurses' Week opens each year on May 6th, marked as RN Recognition Day and Traditional National Nurses Day, and ends on May 12th the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of Nursing as a modern profession. This traditional observance is celebrated each year by over 2.7 million American registered nurses which is the largest health care profession.

This year's national theme is 'Touching Lives One Person at a Time'. This is what nurses do - they touch lives every day - one person at a time. This is quite a responsible task when you stop to consider that each time a nurse touches one life he or she is actually touching hundreds of lives. Touching one life is like dropping a pebble into a placid lake and watching the circles radiate outward at 360° - each circle is larger than the last - and it encompasses everything. That everything being the complete care of the patient - their medications, the patient's concerns or worries, the communication to the physician on the patients current condition and symptoms, and the family and friends of the patient. The nurse takes care of all these things and more with an assured demeanor and a smiling, friendly face regardless of the odds they may be facing with that particular patient.

To all nurses, particularly our nurses here at Logan Regional Medical Center and Guyan Valley Hospital, we honor you as individuals and as professionals. We appreciate your tireless work through the many roles you perform as a nursing professional: critical care, pediatric, maternity, surgical, emergency department, staff nurses and more. To this end, we are honored to have you as our nurses.

EMS Week, May 15 - 21, 2005

Logan Regional Medical Center and Guyan Valley Hospital are pleased to be celebrating EMS Week (Emergency Medical Services) May 15 - 21, 2005. EMS Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of the medical 'front line' - Fire, Police, and Emergency personnel. This year's theme "Ready, Responsive, Reliable" captures the essence of the willingness to serve.

Did you ever wonder how 9-1-1, the three digit telephone number designated as the Universal Emergency Number for public use throughout the United States, came into being? In 1967 the FCC, Federal Communication Commission, met with AT&T, American Telephone and Telegraph Company, to find a means of establishing a universal emergency number that could be implemented quickly. In 1968, AT&T established the digits 9-1-1 as the emergency code throughout the United States. The number 9-1-1 was decided upon because it is easy to remember, can be dialed quickly, and it had never been authorized as an office code, area code, or service code.

Just as pharmacists have the mortar and pestle and doctors have the caduceus, The Blue "Star of Life" is the symbol for the EMS that is always seen on ambulances and EMS uniforms - the staff on the star represents Medicine and Healing. Each of the bars of the blue "Star of Life" represents the six system function of the EMS: Detection; Reporting; Response; On Scene Care; Care in Transit and; Transfer to Definitive Care

To show how far the EMS has come we must look back to the late 1800's in Brooklyn, New York. Horse-drawn ambulances, usually housed in a neighborhood stable, were staffed by a driver and a surgeon. Ambulance calls consisted of transfers and "Hurry" calls. "Hurry" calls, dispatched through police headquarters, were reserved for severe accidents or similar emergencies so that 'ambulance horses were not galloped needlessly' for the relief of a sprained ankle! The emergency call went something like this: ambulance drivers received calls; they rang the ambulance surgeon and then hitched the horses, the ambulance surgeon responded from the staff room and jumped upon the ambulance as it moved down the street! We've certainly come a long way.

Today's EMS is much more than an ambulance service and is made up of many parts called the EMS System. The system includes the call center which dispatches help, those who respond first (police and firefighters), an ambulance transportation team of EMT (Emergency Medical Technicians) and/or Paramedics, physicians and nurses who provide advice via radio or phone, air medical services (helicopters and small airplanes), and the hospital receiving facility.

"While none of us prefer to have to use the services of the EMS, we are deeply grateful to those that serve on 'the front line' to rescue us in our most desperate time of need. To that end, all of us at Logan Regional Medical Center and Guyan Valley Hospital are proud to be working at the side of these 'everyday heroes'. We commend you for your selflessness and dedication to your highly regarded vocation," commented Kevin Fowler, CEO of the hospitals.