med west press

Med West Pressan employee & physician centered publication of medical west

vol 5 issue 21 2014

a l e t t e r f r o m k e i t h p e n n i n g t o n

11.24.14features

pg. 3YOUR HEALTHThe Truth About Tryptophan

MEET YOUR CO-WORKERSKevin Williams, Quality/Infecti on Control

pg. 9

COMMUNITY UPDATECanned Food Drive Wrap-Up

pg. 7

As you know, pati ent experience and sati sfacti on is a top priority for Medical West. Our pati ents deserve the best care we can provide. To measure our pati ent’s level of sati sfacti on, pati ents receive a post-discharge telephone call, and are asked several questi ons regarding their percepti ons of their care. Due to your hard work and commitment to our pati ents, I am pleased to say that we have achieved year over year improvement in every category related to pati ent sati sfacti on. Several best practi ces for improving pati ent experience have been initi ated this year, including: AIDET, communicati on tools, staff involvement in committ ees, staff recogniti on and leadership rounding.

Over the past eight weeks, the management team has had the opportunity to talk with hundreds of our pati ents about their care at Medical West. It is clear from our conversati ons with the pati ents, that your eff orts have made an impact and are making a diff erence. Leadership rounding is also providing us with real-ti me feedback about opportuniti es for improving the pati ent and family experience. It is becoming clear that it’s oft en the small things that make the greatest impact on a pati ent’s percepti on. One pati ent told us how much she appreciated a Food Services Porter who began bringing her two cups of coff ee instead of one. Another pati ent’s family member expressed how thankful she was when the ICU nurses helped to calm her fears when her sister was admitt ed. Remember, each of us has an opportunity each day to do something special for a pati ent or family member. Something that seems small to you can have a tremendous impact and can make a good hospital visit great! From the greeti ng at the front desk, the nod and smile of someone passing in the hall, the delivery of the food tray, the escort to the restroom or elevator, the cleaning of the pati ent room, the careful sti ck of the phlebotomist, the explanati on of the medicati on, to the encouragement of the physician - each one of us has the ability to make a positi ve impact on our pati ent’s experience.

Leadership rounding is also providing us the ability to identi fy and recognize staff making the most of the opportunity to serve our pati ents. The team members listed below have consistently been recognized on multi ple occasions by multi ple pati ents. Some of the words used to describe these individuals and their care

(conti nue reading on next page)

include: Amazing, kind, helpful, sincere, courteous, compassionate, concerned, responsive, detailed, and caring. Special recogniti on to Laura Golden, Debbie Bishop, Neil Holland, Jamey Deadwyler, Kristi n Seals, Gizelle Knox, Amanda Clevenger, Tanisha Hardy, Daniel Hubbard, Tonya Smith, Amanda Payne, Dana Medders, Maria Salas, Eula Smith, Misty Fisher, Justi ne Vaughn, Linda Smith, Malea Kizziah, Ryan Hughes, Janet Hall, Bonny Harris, Brenden Pope, Kevin Baker, Vanessa Jones, Tonya Dedmon, Jill McKeever, Tonya Troncalli, Pauline Mbogo, Verdis Williams, Becky McGuire, Bett y Brown, Bonny Harris, Brandi Lumpkin, Brenden Pope, Bridgett Boyd, Caroline Kirkpatrick, Cindy Moore, Cindy Seritt , Gloria Harris, Gwen Johnson, Janet Hall, Jennifer North, Jill McKeever, Jonica Crowe, Kim McCain, Lanett e Rivers, Katrina Young, Mary Bergman, Tianna Pope, Latesha Blevins Dr. Moellinger, Dr. Player, Dr. Livingston, and Dr Issis.

Lastly, I thank each of you for the care and service you provide to our pati ents and family members. Every encounter makes a diff erence. Thank you for making a diff erence to our pati ents.

(conti nued from previous page)

Thanks for all you do,

Keith Pennington, CEO and President

Thanks for all you do,

Keith Pennington, CEO and President

Dietitians Attend FNCE 2014The Medical West Dieti ti ans recently att ended FNCE 2014 (Food & Nutriti on Conference & Expo) in Atlanta, GA with over 9,500 other Dieti ti ans across the nati on. Some att endees and speakers were even from Canada, Hawaii, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico! They att ended three days of accredited seminars related to medical nutriti on therapy and pati ent care. The Dieti ti ans also visited an Expo where they learned and sampled new dietary products and were able to gain more experience in nutriti on educati on. They were even able to meet Medical West’s Nutricia Rep!

Medical West Dieti ti ans

Leah Bosley & Caroline Kirkpatrick

Leah & Caroline with Nutricia Rep, Symphony Haynes

Blood Drive WinnersThank you to everyone who parti cipated in our recent Red Cross Blood Drive! Congratulati ons to our winners! Team Winner: AB Honor Roll (Case Management, HIM, Accouti ng, Payroll, I/S); Gift Card Winner: Amanda Salers, Vascular Lab

Please call ext. 8505 to claim your prizes! Mark your calendars for our next blood drive, which will be January 30, 2015.

Diabetes QuizTake the diabetes quiz! Located right outside of the nursing educati on classroom you will fi nd a questi onnaire. This questi onnaire shows 14 famous faces, all of which have diabetes. Think you can name all of them? Give it a try! Simply slide your entry under the door. The winner will be the person with the most correct identi ti es. If more than one person has the same number, the winner will be chosen by a random drawing of all entries. Deadline to enter is December 1, 2014 @ 7:00 am.

For questi ons, please contact Sarah Joy Maxwell at ext. 7496.

So if eati ng turkey isn’t the culprit of our holiday sleepiness, then what causes that sudden onset of grogginess when mealti me is over? According to Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, LDN “It boils down to Thanksgiving being a ti me when people overeat. When people overeat food, the digesti on process takes a lot of energy. Don’t incriminate the turkey that you ate,” she says of post-Thanksgiving meal fati gue, “incriminate the three plates of food that you piled high.” Also keep in mind that the holidays usually mean ti me off from work and ti me spent with family so most people feel more

relaxed to begin with, family wars not withstanding. Then if alcohol gets added to the mix, you can count on a sleepy aft ernoon to follow. So

enjoy your enti re Thanksgiving meal without blaming the turkey for your sleepiness and enjoy an aft ernoon of relaxati on as well!

Source: www.webmd.com

Source: fi tnessmagazine.com

youryourhealth

yourhealth

your

Once a year the Thanksgiving holiday is ti me spent with family and eati ng a large meal. Aft er stuffi ng yourself much like a turkey at the center of this holiday, you noti ce yourself feeling extra sleepy. Most people have heard at some point in their lives this fati gue is due to the turkey containing tryptophan, a chemical that can make you ti red. So is your mealti me bird to blame for your sleepiness? Aft er a litt le research we found some answers to this popular holiday questi on.

So, what exactly is tryptophan? L-tryptophan is an “essenti al amino acid” that the human body cannot make on its own . Therefore your diet must supply it. Amino acids are the “building blocks” of proteins. Tryptophan is found in turkey, other types of poultry, cheese, yogurt, meat, eggs and fi sh. Tryptophan is then used by the body to make the B-vitamin niacin which is vital for digesti on, healthy nerves and skin, and producti on of the brain chemical serotonin. Serotonin is the chemical responsible for our moods and also can create feelings of happiness and relaxati on. Serotonin is also used to make melatonin, the hormone that regulates your sleep cycles. So is your Thanksgiving turkey

packed full of this sleep-inducing amino acid? Nope! Holding the turkey responsible for your holiday nap is just a Thanksgiving myth. So is the fact that eati ng foods high in tryptophan boost brain levels of tryptophan, therefore boosti ng brain levels of serotonin. In fact, turkey contains slightly less L-tryptophan than chicken. Elizabeth Somer, MA, RD, states that, “Proteins high in tryptophan require assistance from foods high in carbohydrates to aff ect serotonin levels”. She goes on to explain when you eat a protein-rich food, “Tryptophan has to compete with all these other amino acids. It waits in line to get through the blood-brain barrier and very litt le of it makes it across. The small, all-carbohydrate snack is tryptophan’s ti cket across the blood-brain barrier, where it can boost serotonin levels”. “So have your turkey,” Somer says, “because it will increase your store of tryptophan in the body, but count on the carbohydrates to help give you the mood boost or the restf ul sleep”.

I ate so much turkey I could...ZzZzZz.The truth about tryptophan and “sleepy turkey” syndrome.

c lorscore measures best practices patient safety mission, vision & values

patient experience patient centered care documentation emergency management

of q uality++

Patient Safety - How do I know if it is clean enough?As fl u season approaches, many of us begin to wonder what germs might be lingering in our environment. This is a topic that we have to think about every day in healthcare to protect our pati ents and ourselves from infecti ons that may be shared through equipment, furniture, or our hands. Fortunately, there is an easy way to know if you have done enough!

The expectati ons for cleaning and disinfecti on are based on the Spaulding classifi cati on. This process sets expectati ons based on how the item will contact the pati ent. MANUAL CLEANING WITH SOAP AND WATER /DETERGENT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP! All pati ent care items must be cleaned aft er each pati ent use. Cleaning removes dirty, body fl uids, and most germs – even when a disinfectant is not used. Disinfecti on is added to provide an extra level of protecti on.

• Environmental items include the furniture, surfaces, doorknobs, elevator butt ons, and fl oor in the pati ent rooms, exam rooms, waiti ng areas, or cafeteria. Environmental items typically contact a pati ent’s clothing or skin. Environmental items should routi nely be cleaned with an approved cleaner. Disinfecti on is typically not required unless they are visibly soiled or potenti ally contaminated.

• Non-criti cal items only touch intact skin. Blood pressure cuff s, tourniquets, temporal thermometers, and pati ent beds are typical non-criti cal items. Low-level disinfecti on provides adequate cleaning. Cleaning and low-level disinfecti on can be performed by wiping with an alcohol pad or a disinfecti ng wipe. Disinfecti ng wipes are clearly marked with the contact ti me.

• Semi-criti cal items touch mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth, rectum, or vagina). Examples include oral thermometers, tonometer ti ps, laryngoscope blades, endoscopes, and transvaginal ultrasound probes. Semi-criti cal items must have high level disinfecti on or be sterile. The must remain covered aft er disinfecti on to prevent contaminati on prior to use. High-level disinfecti on is oft en performed by soaking in a chemical soluti on, such as Cidex OPA or hydrogen peroxide. Staff must be specially trained to perform high level disinfecti on.

• Criti cal items come in contact with a sterile body site or are inserted into the vascular system. Criti cal items must be sterile. Examples include surgical implants and IV catheters. Sterilizati on processes are complex and must be closely monitored to assure all bacteria, fungi, viruses, and spores are killed. Special training is required to perform sterilizati on.

New!j int's p intsAs part of our conti nual readiness program, we will highlight each arti cle with common questi ons and key points that may be asked during a survey.

How do you know the equipment is clean?• All items must be cleaned and appropriately disinfected aft er use on a pati ent. If unsure, the item is cleaned and disinfected

before it is used.Look Around Your Area - • Verify semi-criti cal items (endoscopes, laryngoscope blades, thermometers, ultrasound probes) are stored in a manner that

prevents them from becoming contaminated (wrapped, in a covered container, or stored in a clean dedicated storage area)• Check expirati on dates to sterile items. Expired items should be discarded. If no expirati on date is present, the item is

considered sterile as long as the wrapping is clean and intact.

Exiprati on date may be indicated by the hourglass symbol. A graph with a date is the manufactured date.

Marianne Beard, Marketing

emergency management

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Bob Duckworth, I/S

Sheena Walker, GI Lab

Harvey Jones, Surgical Services

Teresa Clark, Rehab

Butch Bradley, Pharmacy

Nancy Keller, Speech Therapy


Harvey Jones, Surgical Services

Butch Bradley, Pharmacy

mary beebedenise bertramtamara bunnsherri carrollbeth casonamanda clevengerjan cookgannon davis

henry davisamanda dowlendenise drakesherry glennjackie harris keith kirklandtajuana mcintoshbenita moore

mario pickensvickie robinsondarcilla rosetroy sanshukimberly tittledarla white

kay clevengerteresa hugginssonia jones

carolyn lucasjune patebrenda thomas

daisy warecheryl white

cindy dickerson fred parsons

janet allumsbetty antonioleigh banksmarianne bearddorothy bizzellbridgett boydbutch bradley bertha browndavid butlerclayton davisbob duckworth

juanita dukepam fewellcarolese gantbetty gibbs glenda horngretchen hudsonnancy hudsontracy hugginsrudolph johnsonkim knightjeff lankford

ranjani masseybecky mcguirecassandra micklesann quinnmichelle royangela saltermatthew vinsonsheena walkersuzanne wannemuelerdebbie yerby

margaret alexanderteresa clark

cindy ericsonnancy keller

theresa montesue wilder

harold bandy lovashia hill tim styron

degloria hill

karen deloach pam giardina

johnnie robertsonleon terry

jacques woodsdonnie pinkard

For more pictures from the Service Awards Luncheon, check out our facebook page!

thank you to those who have reached milestones of dedication to medical west

Women’s Port Authority 3-Button Polo Silk Touch pique sport shirt.65/35 poly cotton interlock made to resist fading and wrinkles.

XS S M L XL - $ 17.00

XXL- $18.00

3X - $19.00

4X- $20.00

Please list quantity beside each color.

White Qty____Navy Qty____

Green Qty____

Men’s Port Authority PoloSilk Touch pique sport shirt.65/35 poly cotton interlock made to resist fading and wrinkles.

XS S M L XL -$17.00

XXL-$18.00

3X -$19.00

4X -$20.00


Navy Qty____ White Qty____

Women’s Nike Dri-FIT PoloDri-FIT fabric keeps you comfortably dry, while a subtle pebble texture adds classic style. Includes a self-fabric collar, four-button placket, open hem sleeves and embroidered contrast Swoosh design trademark on the lower left sleeve. Pearlized buttons. NEW, more durable material!

S M L XL - $33.00

XXL -$35.00


White Qty____ Green Qty____

Light Blue Qty____

Men’s Nike Dri-FIT PoloDri-FIT fabric keeps youcomfortably dry, while a subtle pebble texture adds classic style. Includes a self-fabric collar, two-button placket, open hem sleeves and embroidered contrast Swoosh design trademark on the lower left sleeve. Pearlized buttons. NEW, more durable material!

S M L XL - $34.00

XXL- $36.00 3X- $38.00

4X- $40.00


White Qty____ Green Qty____

uniforms

NEW! Women’s Ruffle Easy Care ShirtFeatures 3/4 sleeves with cuffs and open collar with ruffled Y-shaped slim packet. Front and back darts. 60/40 cotton/poly

S M L XL -$28.00

XXL -$30.00

3X- $32.00

4X - $34.00


Soft Black Qty____

Chambray Blue Qty____

Name____________________________________Department__________________________________Work Extension________________

Total Shirts Purchased_______ Date Purchased__________ Total Amount $__________

Payment Options: ___ Check- Please include payment ___Cash- Please include payment ___Payroll Deduct- Please include payroll deduct form

Women’s Cardigan Set(95% cotton/ 5% spandex). 7-button cardigan. Also includes matching short-sleeved shirt.

S M L XL -$37

XXL -$39

3X- $41

4X - $43


Black Qty____ White Qty____

Navy Qty____

Women’s Port Authority Soft Shell Fleece Jacket (96/4 poly/spandex stretch woven shellwith 100% polyester microfleece lining)Wind-resistant and water-resistant. S M L XL -$42

XXL -$44

3X- $46

4X- $48

Stone Grey Qty____

Black Qty _____

Men’s Port Authority Soft Shell Fleece Jacket(96/4 poly/spandex stretch woven shellwith 100% polyester microfleece lining)Wind-resistant and water-resistant. S M L XL -$42

XXL -$44

3X- $46

4X- $48

Stone Grey Qty____

Black Qty_____

ORDER DUE BY: DEC 15TH

Sample sizes available in Marketing

community UPDATECanned Food Drive Wrap-UpThank you to everyone who parti cipated in the canned food drive sponsored by Grace Church Bessemer! With your help, we were able to donate 671 non-perishable food items as well as a cash donati on of $121.

Congratulati ons to the Business Offi ce for donati ng the most items - 343 total! Please call ext. 8505 to schedule your pizza party.

A special thanks to the following departments for your parti cipati on:HIMRespiratoryRehabInformati on SystemsClinicsICTERNursing ServicesCase ManagementQualityWound Center

Third Annual Holiday Homeless DriveDr. Danika Hickman and Gem Kreati ons (a Domesti c Violence Advocacy Group) are hosti ng their third annual Holiday Homeless Drive on December 6th in the Medical West Civic Room from 4:30 - 6:30 pm. They will be collecti ng items for the homeless community. New and gently used/laundered items are needed and appreciated. A box for donati ons prior to this event is located in Dr. Hickman’s Offi ce, Professional Offi ce Building Suite 407. Please call (205) 243-2191 to arrange bulk pick-up donati ons.

Items Needed:• Blankets• Gloves• Shoes• Hats• Coats

Angel Tree UpdateThere are 2 angels left on the Salvati on Army Angel Tree! If you would like an angel, you can pick one up from the Marketi ng Offi ce, Suite 202 in the POB. The deadline to turn in all new, unwrapped gift s is Friday, December 19th. Please be sure to att ach your angel to the gift . For questi ons, please call ext. 8505.

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• I have been married for 16 years.• I have three kids, ages 12, 10 and 4. • I have a miniature schnauzer named Lucy Bell.• I love to play golf.• I enjoy cooking, especially on the grill.• I have been to Mexico 3 ti mes, but no habla español.• I am afraid of heights.• I hate the color orange. Roll Tide!• I enjoy spending a lot of ti me on Smith Lake with family.• I have been to Disney World 15 ti mes and could write a book

on Disney vacati on ti ps.

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CO -WORKERS

Name: Kevin WilliamsDepartment/Position: CT/ MRI SupervisorEducation Background: Jefferson State Community CollegeHow long have you worked here? 17 years

kevin williamsct/mri supervisor

aword from thewound center.FROM “THE CURESPOT,” A PUBLICATION OF THE MEDICAL WEST ADVANCED WOUND CENTER.

995 9th Avenue SW • Bessemer, AL 35022205.481.8790 www.medicalwesthospital.org

ADVANCED WOUND CENTER

The Problem:In 2012, 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3% of the populati on had diabetes. It has been reported that annually, about 1 to 4 percent of those with diabetes developa foot ulcer; 10 to 15 percent of those with diabetes will have at least one footulcer during their lifeti me. In 2010, about 73,000 non-traumati c lower-limbamputati ons were performed in adults aged 20 years or older with diagnosed diabetes. About 60% of nontraumati c lower-limb amputati ons among people aged 20 years or older occur in people with diagnosed diabetes.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is the leading cause of lower extremity ulcers and amputati ons. Up to 6% of all hospitalizati ons for diabetes pati ents include a lower extremity ulcer at discharge diagnosis. Once an amputati on occurs, 9-20% of diabeti c pati ents will experience another amputati on within 12 months and28-52% within fi ve years.

The Reason:The physiology of diabeti c foot ulcerati on, faulty healing and lower extremity limb loss has been well described.3 Diabetes involves a progressive development of neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and a general regression of the wound healing process.

Chronic wounds become a primary concern for these pati ents once an injury occurs and healing success decreases signifi cantly due to the presence

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy:Diabeti c Wounds of the Lower Extremity Examine

your feet this November

of ti ssue hypoxia and potenti al infecti on. The rate at which normal wounds heal has shown to be oxygen dependent.

The Evidence:Since 1999, there have been numerous independent evidence-based reviews done that have addressed the eff ecti veness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, (HBOT) in the treatment of problem diabeti c foot ulcers. Many of these reviews were of randomized controlled clinical trials, although the pati ent selecti on criteria diff ered in some. The reviews have shown that the additi on of HBOT has shown consistently positi ve results.

In 2001, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, with help from AHRQ, released a report stati ng that HBOT,”aids in the healing of chronic non-healing wounds.”

The available evidence supports the use of adjuncti ve HBOT for DFU’s. HBOT should be considered an AHA Class I therapy based on the level of evidence shown in randomized controlled clinical trials.

The Soluti on:The Advanced Wound Center (AWC) off ers a multi disciplinary approach to the management of these complicated wounds. Oft enti mes the amount of care required for desirable outcomes surpasses the resources which any single physician can provide wound healing at the AWC is achieved in cooperati on with referring physicians, surgeons, podiatrists, and other specialists as required.

the use of adjuncti ve HBOT for DFU’s. HBOT should be

FROM THE MEDICAL WEST SLEEP CENTER.

The relati onship between diabetes and sleep apnea is complicated. Rates of obstructi ve sleep apnea (OSA) are much higher among people with diabetes. At the same ti me, rates of diabetes are higher among people with OSA. The two diseases share common risk factors including obesity and advancing age. More than half of obese individuals are considered at high risk for developing OSA. Also, studies have suggested that having OSA increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. OSA can worsen glycemic control in existi ng diabetes. Having diabetes is a risk factor for developing sleep disorders and may worsen pre-existi ng OSA.

Many people think that sleep apnea only aff ects middle-aged, overweight men who snore loudly. Many people, especially women, aren’t screened or diagnosed.

For people with diabetes, getti ng treated is especially important since research indicates improved insulin sensiti vity and A1C levels decreased aft er a few months of CPAP treatment. In additi on to decreasing dayti me sleepiness and removing a barrier to eff ecti ve weight loss and/or management, treati ng sleep apnea can:

• Improve psychological well-being• Improve memory, concentrati on, and other

cogniti ve functi oning• Improve erecti le dysfuncti on• Lower blood pressure levels• Increase producti vity during the day, including

fewer sick days from work• Decrease the risk of traffi c accidents

CPAP Improves Glycemid Control in Diabeti csA study published in the journal SLEEP, June 2013, suggests that CPAP therapy reduces glucose levels and improves morning glycemic control in type 2 diabeti cs

who have obstructi ve sleep apnea (OSA).

The study group comprised nine type 2 diabeti cs who received one week of CPAP therapy, spending each night in the sleep laboratory. Opti mum CPAP adherence while sleeping for eight hours in bed was achieved by conti nuous supervision. Before and aft er the one-week treatment, subjects consumed standardized meals and provided blood samples at 15 to 30 minute intervals for 24 hours. None of the pati ents were on insulin.

Results showed that one week of opti mal CPAP use lowered average 24-hour glucose levels and improved post-breakfast glucose response. The dawn phenomenon, an early-morning increase in blood sugar in people who have type 2 diabetes, also was reduced by 45 percent as a result of CPAP therapy.

According to lead author, Esra Tasali, MD, assistant professor of medicine, pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Chicago Department of Medicine, “Our study shows that CPAP treatment of sleep apnea across the entire night can improve glucose control and may in some patients have as much of an effect as an oral anti-diabetic medication”.

Diabetes & Sleep Apnea

Medical West Sleep Disorders CenterProfessional Building - Suite 304 • Bessemer, AL 35022205.481.7370 www.medicalwesthospital.org

Sleep Tips for Diabeti cs• Keep blood glucose under control• Treat peripheral neuropathy. Leg

pain can make it diffi cult to fall asleep or stay asleep.

• Treat polyuria and polydipsia. High blood pressure and high blood glucose can increase the urge to urinate overnight. Limit fl uid intake a few hours before sleeping. Urinate before the bedti me routi ne and again before laying down.

• Screen, identi fy and treat sleep disorders.

scheduleUPCOMING

OF EVENTS

NOVEMBER 27Thanksgiving Day

DECEMBER 1 - 5Celebrati ng Accounti ng Week & Christmas Week!

DECEMBER 11 & 12$5 Jewelry Sale • Thursday from 7am - 6pm and Friday from 7am - 4pm • Civic Room

DECEMBER 16December Birthday Breakfast • 8:00 am • Civic Room • Call ext. 8500 to RSVP!

DECEMBER 19Angel Tree Deadline • 12pm • Marketi ng Offi ce • Please return all new, unwrapped gift s to the Market-ing Offi ce with angel tag att ached.

check out our social medica sites to stay up-to-date on everything happening at medical west!

con gratulation s!Gina Laney Welcomes Grandbaby Gina Laney, Accounts Payable, welcomed her new granddaughter on October 27th at 2:23 pm. Lakeyn Grace Sides was delivered by Dr. Gill. She weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. and measured 20.5 inches long. Gina and her family would like to thank Dr. Gill and Nurse Mandy for doing an outstanding job.

Dr. Dearmon Releases Historical NovelLong before beginning her practi ce at Tannehill Clinic, Dr. Mary Beth Dearmon had writt en a book. “When I was eleven years old, my parents took me on vacati on to Colonial Williamsburg, capital of Virginia during the American Revoluti on,” explains Dr. Dearmon. “As I stepped back in ti me, the shadows of the Revoluti on spoke to me. Characters began to emerge in my mind, and I began to write aft er returning home. Although I have cycled through countless draft s since that trip,

my childhood spirit is sti ll entranced by that ti me and place upon which the subsequent history of our nati on turned.” The journey to publicati on, however, was a long one -- and took Dr. Dearmon through seven harrowing years of medical school and residency. Yet she feels strongly that her writi ng experiences have enhanced, not distracted from, her experiences as a physician. “It is through the fi ne arts, parti cularly literature and history, that we can best learn to relate to people from all walks of life, such as those who come to me seeking medical care, and to embrace our common humanity,” she states. Dr. Dearmon’s historical novel, Cadence to Glory, is now available on Amazon in both print and kindle versions.

Long before beginning her practi ce at Tannehill Clinic, Dr. Mary Beth Dearmon had writt en a book. “When I was eleven years old, my parents took me on vacati on to Colonial Williamsburg, capital of Virginia during the American Revoluti on,” explains Dr. Dearmon. “As I stepped back in ti me, the shadows of the Revoluti on spoke to me. Characters began to emerge in my mind, and I began to write aft er returning home. Although I have cycled through countless draft s since that trip,

my childhood spirit is sti ll entranced by that ti me and place upon which

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