A GIFT FOR HEARTS

June 3, 2015

LifeLiner is published on the first and

third Wednesdays by the Marketing and Community

Relations Department

Suzette Rodriguez…...writer, editor Erin Bailey...social media, website

To submit news items, call 938-7103 or email

srodriguez@johnstonhealth.org.

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NOTEWORTHY Big Band Gala to share proceeds with Johnston Health Foundation Do you like jazz? Sidney McCall, a former em-ployee of Johnston Health, will be performing at 7 p.m. on June 18 during A Big Band Gala at The Clayton Center in downtown Clayton. During the show, McCall and other guests will sing jazz standards while accompanied by the Starlight Dance Band. Ten percent of the net pro-ceeds will go to the Johnston Health Founda-tion. McCall, who is a paramedic with Johnston County EMS, worked as a patient care assis-tant in the emergency department in Smith-field and is among last year’s group of John-ston Health Ambassadors. “I wanted to acknowledge the commitment that the foundation has made, year after year, to deliver quality care to patients and their families,” he said in an email. “I’m hope-ful that this can become an event that the community anticipates and supports for many years to come.” Tickets are $25 apiece. They may be or-dered online at www.theclaytoncenter.com or by calling 919-553-1735. Rock with the volunteers The volunteers of Johnston Health Home Care & Hospice will stage their annual rock-a-thon from 8 a.m. till 4 p.m. on June 18 in the Johnston Medical Mall. Gospel and dance groups and Stevie Edwards as “Elvis” will perform throughout the day. There will also be a silent auction, refreshments and games for children. The money raised will go toward the needs of home care and hospice pa-tients. For more info, call the hospice volun-teers office at 919-209-5103. Quilt dedication is Thursday Employees, visitors and volunteers are invit-ed to the Memorial Quilt Dedication at 3 p.m. on Thursday in the interfaith chapel at John-ston Health. The quilt was sewn by volun-teers and is made of swatches of material contributed by families in memory of their loved ones. Take advantage of shot day Need a shot or your annual tuberculin skin test? The employee health nurse has set aside the following shot days: in Smithfield, 7 a.m. till noon and 1 till 3:30 p.m. on June 19; in Clayton, 7:30 a.m. till noon and from 1 till 3:30 p.m. No appointments are necessary. We wish her well Caroline Hester, administrative director of outreach services, is retiring after 28 years of service to Johnston Health. Everyone is invit-ed to a reception in her honor from 1 till 3 p.m. on Friday in the physicians dining room of the cafeteria. Friday is her last day.

As the public relations specialist for Johnston Health, she’s usually the one snapping the pho-tos and covering the news of the organization. But the tables were turned when Suzette Rodri-guez was recently selected as an Ambassador of the Month. “She’s always telling the story to the world: our employees, the community, the newspa-pers,” says vice president April Culver, who oversees the marketing and community relations department. “She also displays a love of art, which was been a blessing to Johnston Health.” As Johnston Health has remodeled, added wings and built new buildings, Rodriguez has commissioned and selected the many works of art for the patient rooms, hallways and lobbies. Today, the Johnston Health collection has a sampling from more than 75 artists across the county. And some of the most endearing works, which hang in the hospital cafeterias, are by school-aged children. In presenting the award, CEO Chuck Elliott said Rodriguez has a passion for art and under-stands the significance of its impact on the hearts and souls of all who are able to enjoy it. “She shares this love with all of us to make our facilities a bright, entertaining and attractive place to work,” he said. As part of the marketing and community rela-tions department, Rodriguez writes the stories, takes the photos and does the layout for the twice-monthly LifeLiner. Among other things, she writes press releases, special pieces for magazines and the annual report, which is mailed to more than 75,000 households. She also assists departments, including the Johnston Health Foundation, with their publicity and copy-writing needs. “I’ve enjoyed sharing the news about our people and services,” she says. “Having such a wonderful collection of local art says that we value and recognize the talents of our communi-ty. There’s a story behind every piece of art, and it’s been a great way to engage and start conver-sations with patients and families. It’s a tie that binds us, and it connects to purpose.” Rodriguez was a community newspaper re-porter and editor for 23 years, most recently at the Herald, before accepting her current position in July 2007. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of North Caroli-na. Rodriguez grew up and still lives at McGee’s Crossroads in western Johnston County. She and her husband, Mike, have a grown son and two grandchildren.

Rodriguez selected as Ambassador Public relations specialist shares passion for local art with employees, patients

On behalf of First Citizens Bank and her family, Olivia Holding presents a check for $250,000 to the Johnston Health Foundation. At left, Johnston Health CEO Chuck Elliott accepted the gift, which will pay for equipping the cardiac cath lab under construction at Johnston Health. At right is Jeff Carver, a bank executive, Johnston County commissioner and member of the Johnston Health Board. He and his wife, Boo, hosted the foundation event at their home in Clayton.

First Citizens says health care a top priority irst Citizens Bank, which has its origins in Smithfield with the Hold-ing family, has given $250,000 to

equip the cardiac catheterization lab now under construction at Johnston Health. Olivia Holding made the announcement on her family’s behalf during a social gathering on May 20 at the home of Jeff and Boo Carver in Clayton. The Johnston Health Foundation put on the event to thank donors and to welcome them into the newly established Johnston Health Society. Also attending the event were Olivia’s younger sister, Claire Bristow, and their mother Ella Ann Holding. Their father, Frank B. Holding Sr., was unable to at-tend. Olivia Holding said the bank places quality health care high on its list of prior-

ities and is pleased to contribute toward a project that will help the hospital improve the lives of residents. Chuck Elliott, CEO and president of Johnston Health, thanked the bank and announced that the cath lab will bear the First Citizens name. “We so appreciate your generosity and your commitment to helping us meet our mission,” he said. Construction on the cath lab began April 20. It is being built in a space formerly used as storage across from CT in the radi-ology department at the hospital in Smith-field. Last week, crews began hanging lead-lined drywall and installing the ductwork. They have also finished the rough-ins for plumbing, electrical, mechanical and medi-cal gases.

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Vice president April Culver and CEO Chuck Elliott congratulate Suzette Ro-driguez on being named Ambassador of the Month for April.

Sidney McCall

Johnston Health at the HeartChase Challenge HealthQuest and the cardiology department fielded teams for the HeartChase Challenge on May 16 in Clayton. The HQ Heart Beats, wear-ing green, won the Extra Effort Award. Their members are: from left, Lesley Atkinson (black shirt), Daphne Barefoot, Stacy Roberts, and Bar-bara and Bucky Cates. The Heart Throbs, wearing blue shirts, won first place for best costumes and collected the most points of any team in the competition. Members of the team are: standing, from left, Seth Gooch, Shelby Holt, Kenny Gooch, Joanna Alznauer, Hank Long, Logan Langdon, and, kneeling left and right, Michelle Cook and Renee King.

Once again Johnston Health will find itself up on the silver screen. On a recent Saturday, the cast and crew of an upcoming film titled “Two Wrongs” shot several scenes on the women’s ser-vices floor at Johnston Health Clayton. The film is produced by Schelle Hol-loway-Purcell in conjunction with Kanaseiu Films and Platinum Productions. It will be entered in several high-visibility film festivals next year throughout the country. “The producers think they have a good shot at landing a distribution deal through Netflix,” says Greg Baker, who has helped facilitate the shoots on Johnston Health’s behalf. Baker is associate director of environ-mental services for Johnston Health. He has a performance background and a pas-sion for the theater. The film is a story of love, betrayal and forgiveness, and will premiere at the Rialto

Local practice adds specialist Johnston Health had added another obstetrician/gynecologist to its medical staff. Dr. Fernando Bendfeldt has joined Southeast Women’s Center and is seeing patients at its locations in Clayton and Smithfield. Bendfeldt received his medi-cal degree from East Tennes-see State University and completed his resi-dency in obstetrics and gynecology at Erlang-er Medical Center in Chattanooga, Tenn. He is board certified in obstetrics and gynecolo-gy, and is a member of the American College of Surgeons. He speaks English and fluent Spanish. Bendfeldt has a special interest in advanced laparoscopic surgery, high-risk obstetrics and fetal nuchal translucency ultra-sound. Welcome to Johnston Health Here’s the list of employees and volunteers joining us in April and May. Fulltime: Katie Barrette, RN, Smithfield, ICU; Misty Bernabe, patient care assistant, Smithfield fourth floor; Kathy Collins, patient care assistant, two east; Ryan Johnson, RN, Clayton recovery room; Deborah Orlovsky-Paine, RN, Clayton OB; Jonathan Patterson, RN, Clayton emergency department; Sharon Smith, patient financial counselor, Smithfield business office; Tanya Stanley, patient care assistant, Clayton emergency department; Stephanie Treadway, Kelly Wilson, phleboto-mists, Smithfield lab; Lynn Kirby, administra-tive assistant, Smithfield; Crystal Lashley, case manager, Smithfield; Janet Martin, RN, Smithfield recovery room; Carlene Perry, RN, Smithfield fourth floor; Selina Renfrow, RN, Smithfield progressive care unit (PCU); Whit-ney Morgan, Christopher Fitzsimmons, res-piratory therapists, Clayton; Charlotte George, patient registrar, Smithfield; Jeremy Kennel, nuclear medicine tech, Clayton; Tim-othy Gilmartin, anesthesia tech, Smithfield; Kathy Gillespie, perinatal tech, Clayton OB; Theresa Hardesty, Nancy Kelly, Lisa William-son, RNs, Clayton OR; Jennifer Buck, patient financial counselor, Smithfield business of-fice; Seth Cotham, RN, Smithfield ED; Victo-ria Lewis, CNA, Smithfield progressive care; Genny Bailey, educator, Smithfield; Amanda Brown, patient care assistant, Smithfield third floor; Tracy Corprew, CNA, SECU Hospice House; Lacey Golick, cardiovascular ultra-sound tech, Clayton; Beverly Maguma, RN, Smithfield fourth floor; Janelli Marrero, CNA, Smithfield third floor; Gennetta Nelson, RN, Smithfield PCU; Caroline White, RN, Clayton third floor; Rebecca Wilson, CNA, Smithfield PCU; Cynthia Yoder, CNA, Smithfield ED; Robert Cupp, manager, Smithfield fourth floor; Kaitlyn Fair and Willa Williams, EVS workers, Clayton; Miriam Lima, Dilma Mejia, Katherine Montes, Wayne Allen, Nina Rojas and Ayana Snead, EVS workers, Smithfield; Julie Almeda, Teresa Murchison, Nancy Scarboro and Carol Barbour, food services, Smithfield; Takesha Muse, food services, Clayton; Thomas Sewell, security, Smithfield; Dana Coberly, patient financial counselor, Smithfield business office; Marcia Drake, contract production manager, Smithfield food services; Part-time: Christina McLamb, patient regis-trar, Smithfield; Famata Williams, RN, Clay-ton third floor; Erica Horton, monitor tech/unit secretary, Smithfield ED; Christopher Turner, sterile processing tech, Smithfield; PRN: Tia-Marie Friese, CNA, Smithfield fourth floor; Lacy Alford, Smithfield PCU; Renee Galvin, sterile processing tech, Smith-field; Sarah Haddock, CNA, third floor Smith-field; Valerie Padgett, patient care assistant, Smithfield fourth floor; Regina Ray, CNA, SECU Hospice House; Lisa Bunch, respirato-ry therapist, Smithfield; Julie Dalton, nurse anesthetist, Clayton; Sarah Martin, RN, be-havioral health; Elizabeth Banda, CNA, Clay-ton second floor; Alexis Gray, patient care assistant, Clayton third floor; Lauren Keme-ny, patient care assistant, Clayton ED; Han-nah Nicholson, EKG tech, Clayton; Anthony Plumley, patient care assistant, Clayton ED; Heather Spitz, monitor tech, Smithfield PCU; Jennifer Tumulak, respiratory therapist, Clay-ton; Kelley Pleasants, cardiac cath RN, Smithfield; Dava Johnston and Kaylie Pilking-ton, CNAs, Smithfield PCU; Catherine Mas-sey, patient care assistant, Smithfield PCU; Jeffrey Alexander, cardiovascular tech, Smithfield cardiology; Becky Carter, RN, Smithfield ED; Jessica Joyce, CNA, Clayton second floor; Christina Miller, RN, Smithfield third floor; Rebecca Temple, cardiovascular ultrasound tech, Smithfield. Hospital volunteers: Deborah Brand, Jacklyn Prosser, Ray Williams, Audrey Ennis, Wallis Somerville, Nabil Hussaini, Velma Johnson, Linda Matthews, Susan Hedgpeth-Braddy, Karen Kline, Philomena Krasinski and Cornelia Lee.

Movie crew films scene at Clayton

Greg Baker, associate director of environmental services, took this photo of the actors and production crew during a recent filming for a movie at Johnston Health Clayton.

Film shot in Smithfield makes debut in recent festival in Wilmington

Theater in Raleigh and again in Atlanta, he says. In fall 2013, “Walk through The Valley,” a feature length motion picture produced by Eirnavie Entertainment, was filmed on a vacant floor of the Bright Leaf tower in Smithfield. Other scenes were shot at the county courthouse and at the home of Chris John-son, who is director of Johnston County Economic Development. The film made its debut in Wilmington two months ago at the North Carolina Black Film Festival. It will be screened at

the prestigious Sundance & Cannes film festivals later this year. Johnston Health’s campuses were select-ed for both projects following conversa-tions between Baker and Donna Bailey-Taylor, who is executive director of the Johnston County Visitors Bureau. Bailey-Taylor is almost always the first point of contact for companies and film crews looking to work in the area, he says. In exchange for use of the hospital space, both production companies have made contributions to the Johnston Health Foun-dation.

Fastest female runner Dr. Nicole Collins was the first female runner to cross the finish line at the Johnston Health Champions 5-K on May 2. But she may have been the last winner to receive her medal. Ashley Scott, manager of Health-Quest, surprised the internist at her office on May 15 with a special presentation. Chief Operating Officer Eddie Klein, who volun-teered at the event, came by to congratulate Collins on her victory. She finished the 3.1-mile course in 25:08.

Johnston Health Volunteers award scholarships to local students The Johnston Health Volunteers have awarded scholarships to students pursuing fields in health care. The awards are for $1,000 apiece and are for one year of study. The recipients are, from left, seated: Faith Bowen of Goldsboro, Tori Clymore of Benson, Jaclyn Farrior of Pikeville, Shaquona Hocutt of Selma and Ethan Holland of Middlesex; standing, Cynthia Holloman of Princeton, Jessica Langston of Four Oaks, Kaylie Pilkington of Smith-field, Jessica Rae Scott of Selma and Emma Szczesiul of Smithfield. The volunteers raise money for the scholar-ships from shoe, jewelry and book sales in the cafeteria.

Dr. Benfeldt