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Hospital Construction Manager Hired for Weems Renovation Project
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners recently selected Culpepper Construction of Thomasville as the construction manager to oversee the $10 million renovation of the Weems Memorial Hospital project. Now that the contract is in place, hospital officials say the design process will be finalized and groundbreaking for the new facility is expected by the end of the year with an anticipated completion date projected for 2017. Above, an artist conceptual drawing of the new hospital facility.
The proposed plan calls for the replacement of the emergency department, radiology suite and inpatient nursing unit. The new facility will be constructed on the eastern side of the Hospital and include 10-12 private inpatient rooms with individual shower and restrooms, an emergency department with triage, four exam rooms and a radiology suite with CT and radiology/fluoroscopy rooms. Procedure services will remain in the existing location with some cosmetic upgrades. Also remaining in the existing facility will be pharmacy, laboratory, respiratory, physical therapy and dietary services. An expansion of physical therapy to include outpatient physical therapy is planned in the existing space.
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Physician Profile
Meet Weems Emergency RoomPhysician Dr. Joshua Dietzer
Dr. Joshua Dietzer is part of the Weems Memorial Hospital staff of Acute Care physicians who attends to patients in the hospital’s Emergency Room. Dr. Dietzer graduated from Florida State University in 2009 with his Doctor of Medicine degree. He completed his Family Practice Residency at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital in 2012. Dr. Dietzer holds Board Certification in Family Medicine.
Dr. Dietzer is part of the Weems staff of Emergency Room and Acute Care physicians who attend to patients as part of an agreement with the Southland Emergency Medical Services of FL group. Dr. Dietzer is part of a team of board certified physicians that serve as the Emergency Room and in-patient physicians. Dr. Dietzer is also just one of the new attending physicians at the hospital. In January, Dr. Emma Stoll, an internal medicine physician, joined the Weems staff. Dr. Stoll specializes in the treatment of diabetes and obesity.
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The Weems Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff is fully trained in responding to heart-related and other medical emergencies. You can count on your local team to provide you the professional emergency care you need.
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Healthcare Appreciation Month
May is the month that hospitals, nurses and EMS personnel are recognized. Nurse’s week is recognized each year from May 6th to May 12th(Florence Nightingale’s Birthday!) in celebration of the contribution of nurses to society. The profession of a nurse requires great observational skills and the ability to respond sensitively to a patient’s needs.
May 15-21 is also EMS Week. On any given day, EMS personnel help save lives by responding to medical emergencies, including heart attack, difficulty breathing, a fall or accident, drowning, cardiac arrest, stroke, drug overdose or acute illness. EMS may provide both basic and advanced medical care at the scene of an emergency and en route to a hospital. EMS week honors the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine’s front line.
May 8-14 is also National Hospital Week - a celebration of people who provide healthcare in a variety of way. “Weems is extremely proud of each member of our staff and we recognize the important role they play in extending a sense of trust to our patients and our community,” says Weems CEO Mike Cooper.
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National Stroke Awareness Month
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. In order to help the community better understand the risk factors and symptoms of stroke, Weems Memorial Hospital is promoting stroke awareness.
“Time is crucial in the treatment of stroke, as on average, every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke and roughly every four minutes someone dies from a stroke,” said Weems ER Physician, Pat Conrad, M.D. “The earlier a stroke is recognized and the patient receives medical attention, the greater chance of recovery.
Strokes occur when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and vital nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. When this occurs, part of the brain is deprived of blood and oxygen, destroying millions of valuable nerve cells in minutes.
About Stroke
Stroke is a leading cause of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States. According to the American Stroke Association, approximately 795,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke each year, and 87 percent of these are ischemic strokes. An acute ischemic stroke occurs when an obstruction, such as a blood clot, blocks blood flow to the brain. The obstruction deprives the brain of blood and oxygen, destroying valuable nerve cells in the affected area within minutes. The resulting damage can lead to significant disability including paralysis, speech problems and emotional difficulties· Treatment may be available if you get to the emergency room immediately upon recognition of stroke symptoms.
For more information about stroke, visitwww.strokeawareness.com or Becky Gibson, Weems Memorial Hospital, (850) 653-8853 ext. 108.
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Weems EMS Director Jarrod Wester taught CPR to members of the Philaco Women’s Club and the Conservation Corps youth members recently.
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Weems Hospital Hosting
Community CPR ClassesJarrod Wester, Emergency Medical Services (Ambulance) Director at Weems Memorial Hospital is conducting CPR classes to organizations or groups interested in taking the course. Wester recently conducted the CPR classes for the Philaco Women’s Club and the Conservation Corps group of young people. your group is interested in an American Heart Association CPR course, please call Jarrod Wester at (850)653-8853 ext. 139.
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To improve a victim’s privacy and security, Weems Memorial Hospital features a specific room that has been designated as a SAFE room. The room is located away from the general public area, has a locked entrance and is not accessible to other patients or visitors. In addition to the set of locked doors, the room has its own private restroom and hallway, ensuring complete privacy and safety.
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Weems Opens SAFE Room to Help Sexual Assault Victims
April marks Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month – a good time to get involved in the conversation about sexual violence, share important resources and take action.
Weems Memorial Hospital entered that conversation in 2011 when it joined the Franklin County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) to provide a coordinated, survivor-focused response to the needs of sexual assault victims.
This Spring, Weems takes the next step in its commitment to the issue by opening a secure Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE or SAFE) room designated solely for victims that come to the hospital seeking sexual assault victim services.
According to Aimee DiPalma, Franklin County SART Coordinator and Refuge House Victim’s Advocate, the Weems SAFE room is a secure examining designed to hold all the necessary resources to care for victims.
In addition to that, Weems staff have been trained to respond to sexual assault situations. “The nurses at Weems Memorial have been trained in forensic collection best practices,” says Beckie Gibson, Weems Director of Nursing. “This has helped every person that has contact with the victim and most importantly the victim themselves. According to Gibson, Weems Memorial’s nurses have all attended SANE overview training.
Weems Memorial Hospital is one of several local SART partners. Other local SART partners include: Refuge House, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Carrabelle City Police Department, Weems Memorial Hospital, Weems Emergency Medical Services, and the Office of the State Attorney.
“Our goal is to create positive partnerships with agencies, community organizations, and individuals that may provide assistance to sexual assault survivors,” says SART coordinator DiPalma. “Together, we strive to establish compassionate support systems for victims, which include assisting them as they navigate medical, legal, and advocacy systems.”
Weems staff work closely with the area’s lead sexual assult advocate, the Refuge House. The Refuge House offers support and resources to people who have been hurt by abuse or violence. The group offer guidance and encouragement for families and friends worried about a daughter, sister, child, or parent.
The Statistics
Domestic violence and sexual assault affect thousands of women, children and men in our community every year. Nationally, one in 5 women in the United States has been raped in her lifetime, and nearly half have experienced some other form of sexual violence. One in 5 men, too, have experienced either rape or some form of sexual violence. One in three women have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner.
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Weems Hosts Smoking
Cessation Classes
Monthly Tobacco Cessation Classes are held at Weems Hospital on every 3rd Wednesday from6:00pm to 8:00pm. The next class will be held May 18, 2016.
The Tools to Quit program is a FREE two-hour tobacco cessation program held to assist those using any form of tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, snuff, dip, etc.) with quitting. Nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patches, gum, etc.) are FREE and are provided to active participants. Please contact Preston Mathews at 850-224-1177and/or at pmathews@bigbendahec.org for more information.
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Weems Hosts Overeaters AnonymousIf food is a problem for you, or you eat when you’re not hungry, or you binge, purge or restrict food, or your weight affecting your life, Overeaters Anonymous (OA) can help. A local chapter of the group currently meets each Sunday from 5:30-6:30 pm in the Weems Memorial Cafeteria to offer strength, hope and recovery. There are plans to expand the meeting to twice a week. For more information, call 850-385-8421 or emailOA.Apalach@gmail.com.
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Child Abuse Awareness
Local healthcare professionals agree that there are ways everyone can help prevent child abuse within our community. Here are some specific ways you can help.
1. Volunteer with community programs that support children and families.
2. Be there for kids - listen and empathize.
3. Know the signs of child abuse.
4.. Remind parents that it’s OK to get help.
5. Treat all children and parents with respect. Look for the good in everyone.
6. Always stop to cool down before disciplining a child.
7. Set a positive example - never use violence or put-downs.
8. Reach out to a parent who seems overwhelmed.
9. You can make a difference - take action right away if a child has been abused.
For suspected child abuse, the singular course of action is to call 1-800-96ABUSE If you suspect abuse, serious neglect or exploitation of children, disabled adults or aged persons, call 1-800-96ABUSE or 1-800-962-2873.
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