New STEMI Network Launched Generous Support for

New Cancer Center

Homegrown Physicians Have Their Hometown at Heart

For Life!For Life!For Life!For Life!For Life!For Life!For Life!For Life!For Life!For Life!For Life!Winter 2012

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It often goes unspoken, but we all treasure the quiet, unhurried charm of small town life. We all appreciate

knowing our neighbors by name, good old-fashioned Southern hospitality and being able to make it clear across town in a matter of minutes.

There’s a lot to be said for growing up in Vidalia, or any number of small towns that dot the South Georgia landscape. It should come as no surprise that the doctors at Meadows Regional Medical Center share the same affection for the quality of life here. Many of the physicians who practice at Meadows grew up in Vidalia and the surrounding area.

With their unique skills and qualifications, they could have chosen to practice medicine anywhere. But they chose to come home to their friends and neighbors at Meadows because they love it here for all of the same reasons you do.

“We moved here when I was two,” says obstetrician Dr. Susanna Meredith. “Growing up here is a very different experience than a lot of my college and medical school friends had. I knew mostly everybody, their families, who they were related to. It was a very friendly environment. It felt very safe and very nurturing.”

Dr. Meredith actually had six job offers when she was deciding where to pursue her career. In the end, the choice was easy. “My husband is from here. We have two sets of parents here. So that was very alluring,” she says.

“And,” she adds, “here I know 90 percent of my patients so it makes it a lot more personal. Here I get to see children grow up that I deliver. I get to see how my patients are recovering from surgery when I see them at church the next Sunday. I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

Dr. Janica Peavey shares Dr. Meredith’s sentiments. She grew up in Soperton, just a few minutes away. “The communities are just close-knit. Everyone’s your neighbor. Everyone’s around to help out. It’s just about neighborly love and friendship,” she says.

Dr. Peavey is a neuroradiologist who always knew she would come home to practice.

“I enjoy treating my friends and neighbors simply because I know I’m doing my best to provide them with the best

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Homegrown Physicians Have Their Hometown at Heart

Anna Franklin, MD Misty Poole, MD Justin Osborne, MD Susanna Meredith, MD Janica Peavey, MD

I’ve practiced at larger hospitals and I can tell you that Meadows competes with anyone’s technology and medical care.

JANICA PEAVEY, MD

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medical care possible,” Dr. Peavey says. “I’ve practiced at larger hospitals and I can tell you that Meadows competes with anyone’s technology and medical care. But at the same time, we’re small enough to know the patients personally and provide that special touch. I take a great deal of pride in the fact that I can provide the best of care to my family and friends.”

Dr. Anna Franklin is also a radiologist. She grew up in nearby Metter and knew from an early age that she wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps as a physician. She likes the small town atmosphere in Vidalia and knowing people when she goes to a restaurant or the grocery store.

“It’s very rewarding to treat friends and neighbors but it can make things more stressful because you’re giving it that something extra,” Dr. Franklin says. “But it’s worth it. It’s great to offer new technology to friends and family without them having to drive to Savannah or Macon.”

Internist Dr. Misty Poole was born and raised in Vidalia and recently returned. She says there’s nothing like coming back home, and believes that health care is something that distinguishes Vidalia from other small cities.

“For our size of town, our hospital has so much to offer,” she says. “I trained in a larger, metropolitan facility and got to see so much. I am proud to bring those skills to the place I grew up.”

Finally, Dr. Justin Osborne is a native son of Vidalia and has also recently come back home for the “small-town feel” to practice emergency medicine.

“It’s nice to see familiar faces when you walk into a room and know that you have their trust,” he says. “I’m just proud to be a part of this community.”

When you see a doctor at Meadows Regional Medical Center, there’s a good chance you know them personally. You may know their families. So when you see them in a restaurant or the grocery store, make sure you stop and say, “hello.”

… here I know 90 percent of my patients so it makes it a lot more personal.

SUSANNA MEREDITH, MD

One of the missions of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America is to inspire and enable all young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. It’s a challenge when an increasing number of children are at home with no adult care or supervision. And it’s an ideal near and dear to the hearts of Meadows’ physicians. Drs. Karen McColl, Kurt Hofmann, Gilbert Gonzalez and Tiffanie Noonan all serve on the board of directors, while Drs. Wayne Williams, Mike Williams and Frank Gibase each provide financial support for the Club.

Dr. McColl and Dr. Gonzalez have each served on the board for two years. Dr. Hofmann has been active in fundraising for the organization for some time and Dr. Noonan recently joined the board.

According to Dr. Gonzalez, “The Boys & Girls Club of Vidalia is both a necessity and luxury to the children that it serves. It is a necessity in that it provides essential services that are unmet and a luxury in that it provides an enriched environment that is otherwise unavailable. The staff is exceptional and the board is deeply committed. The overall goal is to create a better Toombs County by providing a nurturing experience for its children.”

A new Boys & Girls Club facility has been a primary focus of the fundraising efforts for the past six to twelve months. “We’ve had great support from the community, from the Vidalia Downtown Association and the Commissioners as well as the Sweet Onion community,” Dr. McColl says.

“As physicians, we see a large number of people in the community in need of social services, in need of mentoring − in need of just having someone interested in their well-being,” Dr. McColl says. “The Boys & Girls Club really provides that.”

Meadows’ Physicians Support Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Karen McColl, MD

Gilbert Gonzalez, MD

Kurt Hofmann, MD

Tiffanie Noonan, DO

Winter 2012

4 For Life!

Meadows Healthcare Foundation has embarked on its first ever

capital campaign. For the next three years, the focus will be on building a new facility for Meadows Regional Cancer Center. The cancer center will provide our community with a state-of-the-art facility, the most advanced technology, and highly-trained and experienced physicians. Serving over nine counties, the Meadows Regional Cancer Center will help save lives through early detection and aggressive treatments and will impact the lives of countless patients, caregivers, and family members.

With the addition of the cancer center, Meadows Regional Medical Center will offer services that are normally only available in larger cities. It will allow easier access to care so that patients who are ill will no longer have to travel hours to receive the treatments and therapies they require.

Supporting Local Cancer Treatment“We will be asking for the support of our community. We need help to build this and we want our community to be involved so they can take pride in it truly being a community cancer center. We are making history here and changing the lives of generations to come,” says Melissa Hightower, Meadows Healthcare Foundation Director.

Karon Durden, breast cancer survivor and community philanthropist, accepted the position of Foundation Chairperson. “It is important for our community to understand how strong the need is for a cancer center in Vidalia. So many people are unaware of the hardships others go through having to travel for radiation treatment and constantly searching for top-of-the-line care,” says Durden. “Patients are overwhelmed not only with the fact that they have cancer but having to figure out the best treatment options,

where to be treated, whether they can afford to take off work to travel out of town, and if they can afford the cost of travel. It is very overwhelming, I promise. I’ve been there. We need our community to step up and show their support.”

And stepping up is just what our community has begun to do.

According to Karon, “The Foundation is running remarkably well. We have had a very strong showing from our employees, and we have had a very strong level of support from our community – industries and individuals alike.”

Alan Kent, CEO and President of Meadows Regional states, “We continue to move along with our Foundation and we are starting to see some significant donations from the community. Community Hospice has pledged $50,000 over the next three years to the Meadows Healthcare Foundation. VNS Corporation and Chicken of the Sea have both committed $15,000, Bishop-Durden Insurance Group $17,500, Zaxby’s $10,000, Ronald Hall Funeral Home $6,000 and there are a number of donations in the works from individuals pledging $10,000 over a three-year period.”

You Can HelpThe Foundation offers a number of ways you can help ensure our community’s healthcare needs are met now and in coming years. All gifts to Meadows Healthcare Foundation are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

If you are interested in making a gift or would like more information, please contact Melissa Hightower at the Meadows Healthcare Foundation at 912.277.2139.

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Generous Support REPORTED FOR FOUNDATION

$50,000Community Hospice(pledged over 3 years)

$17,500Bishop-Durden

Insurance Group

$15,000VNS Corporation

Chicken of the Sea

$10,000Zaxby’s

$6,000Ronald Hall Funeral Home

CORPORATE DONORS

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The prestigious Becker’s Hospital Review recently listed Meadows Regional Medical Center among “100 Great Community Hospitals,” which recognizes high-performing hospitals with fewer than 550 beds and minimal teaching programs.

Community hospitals are a critical component to the American healthcare continuum. These hospitals are often the anchors of health and employment within their communities, providing patients with top-quality care close to home. These hospitals have demonstrated commitments to the health of their local population through clinical excellence, community involvement and various other efforts.

Becker’s Hospital Review is widely considered a leading source of cutting-edge business and legal information for hospital and

health system leaders, owners and operators of ambulatory surgery centers, and leaders of orthopedic and spine practices. To compile this list, the Becker’s Hospital Review editorial team analyzed information, recognition and rankings from a variety of industry sources, including iVantage Health Analytics, Thomson Reuters, HealthGrades and the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

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DONOR SPOTLIGHT Community Hospice

Community Hospice has been serving patients and families in Toombs and surrounding counties for more than 13 years. They under-stand the overwhelming need to serve cancer patients in our area. They see it every day. During these 13 years, thousands of families have benefited from the compassionate care provided by Community Hospice staff during the difficult journey of an individual’s life-limiting illness. Community Hospice has made a commitment of compassionate and competent care, second to none.

Community Hospice and Meadows Regional Medical Center, along with the Meadows Healthcare Foundation, have built a collaborative working relationship over the years. While providing different services, these organizations have a common goal in maintaining a commitment to excellence in patient care. When the news was announced that the Meadows Healthcare Foundation was in the process of building a state-of-the-art cancer center, Community Hospice knew just how much the citizens of our area would benefit.

“When organizations work together in collaboration, great things can be accomplished. The patients and families in our community will benefit greatly from the cancer center and Community Hospice gladly supports these efforts. We are honored to help such a wonderful organization as Meadows Healthcare Foundation bring technology home,” said Jason Colbert, CHPCA and Chief Executive Officer of Community Hospice.

As part of Community Hospice’s donation, they will have the opportunity to name the Patient Navigator office. Patient navigators are trained healthcare workers who provide individual assistance to cancer patients, survivors and family members. As advocates, they help patients navigate through the healthcare system – physician offices, hospitals, outpatient centers, insurers and support organizations. These services are designed to support the timely delivery of cancer care and ensure patient satisfaction with their encounters within the cancer care system.

Meadows Regional Named A Great

Community Hospital

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The Vidalia Regional Cancer Center recently moved inside Meadows Regional Medical Center. The move was made for several reasons, but primarily to improve safety and convenience for patients.

Dr. Patrick Byrne is the hematology/medical oncology physician at Meadows. He says the move is welcomed by patients and staff alike.

“We have a nicer space. Inpatients are upstairs and outpatients downstairs. We’re closer to the lab and radiology and the patients don’t have to go to two places to get blood drawn. Our patients appreciate a location that is more convenient to radiology.

“It’s also more convenient for procedures. If patients need to be hospitalized they just go upstairs. If they need to go to the

emergency room they just go around the corner. So I think it’s a huge improvement,” says Dr. Byrne.

The cancer center provides treat-ment for adult cancer patients, including patients who are involved with research protocols at major research centers. For example, the cancer center often serves as the local oncologist in collaboration

with major research and referral centers. In this way, patients in and around Vidalia enjoy the best of both worlds. The latest, most advanced care and treatment such as chemotherapy are close to home.

As comfortable as the move to the hospital has proven to be, it is temporary. As reported, the Foundation is hard at work to secure funds for a dedicated and comprehensive cancer center designed to serve nine counties. The new cancer center will provide specialized care, including chemotherapy and radiation, close to home.

Cancer Center Move an Advantage for Patients

Meadows Regional New STEMI Network LaunchedThe Cardiovascular Services department at Meadows Regional recently kicked off its STEMI Network, and is setting the standard of care for patients experiencing cardiac emergencies in this community and the surrounding counties.

STEMI, which stands for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, is the most dangerous type of heart attack where the coronary artery is completely blocked off by a blood clot. Without blood flow, virtually all of the heart muscle supplied by the affected artery starts to die.

Getting treatment quickly is critical to surviving a STEMI. This program greatly reduces the amount of time for diagnosis and treatment for cardiac patients. EMS providers are now able to send cardiac information for heart attack patients from the ambulance to the emergency department prior to the patient’s arrival. This allows the hospital to react faster by preparing for the patient’s arrival and cuts down on the time the patient enters the catheterization lab.

A grant for online education for participating EMS stations was received from AstraZeneca pharmaceuticals. This will be used for every EMS provider in Meadows’ network who will be required to complete an assessment before receiving their LifePaks. The LifePak 12 defibrillator/monitor has expanded diagnostic and monitoring capabilities for acute cardiac care that allows transmission of the EKG from the ambulance to Meadows Regional.

As of September, Toombs, Tattnall, Jeff Davis and Emanuel counties are all able to transmit EKGs to Meadows Regional through a hub in the Emergency Department. Meadows Regional, in partnership with Toombs County, is purchasing two defibrillators for Toombs and Montgomery Counties. Meadows Regional is also purchasing one each for Tattnall, Jeff Davis and Emanuel counties.

Patrick Byrne, MD

The cancer center provides treatment for all types of adult cancer patients, including patients who are involved with research protocols at major research centers.

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Emergency Medicine Physician Justin Osborne, MDDr. Justin Osborne recently joined Meadows Regional Medical Center as an emergency medicine physician.

Dr. Osborne graduated summa cum laude from Mercer University, before earning his medical degree from Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Ga. Dr. Osborne performed his Emergency Medicine residency at University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Ala., where he was named the Emergency Medicine Resident

of the Year (2011-2012). He was also a recipient of the David Andretta, MD, Memorial Award for exemplifying Dr. Andretta’s thirst for knowledge and teaching, and his dedication to the medical profession.

Dr. Osborne is from Vidalia and has recently come back home to practice medicine.

Internist Misty Denise Poole, MDMeadows Regional Medical Center welcomes Dr. Misty Poole to Vidalia Internal Medicine and the hospital’s medical staff.

Dr. Misty Poole recently joined Meadows Regional Medical Center following completion of the Internal Medicine residency program at Medical Center of Central Georgia. Dr. Poole is a magna cum laude graduate of University of Georgia and earned her medical doctorate from Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Ga. While

at Mercer University School of Medicine, Dr. Poole garnered the Outstanding Intern Award and the Outstanding Internal Medicine Resident Award. At this writing, Dr. Poole is board eligible for Certification by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

She is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Association, and the Christian Medical & Dental Associations.

Dr. Poole was born and raised in Vidalia and recently returned to live here.

Neuroradiologist Janica W. Peavey, MDMeadows Regional Medical Center welcomes Dr. Janica Peavey to the hospital’s medical staff.

Dr. Peavey graduated cum laude from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, and earned her medical degree from Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Ga., where she was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society in her junior year. She performed her

Internal Medicine residency and a Radiology residency at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Ga., then sought further expertise through a fellowship in Neuroradiology at University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Dr. Peavey is board certified by the American Board of Radiology. She

is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Association, Georgia Association of Family Practitioners, Medical Association of Georgia and Southern Medical Association.

Dr. Peavey is married and recently returned to live in her hometown of Soperton, Ga.

Nephrologist Payson Oberg-Higgins, MD Meadows Regional Medical Center is pleased to welcome Dr. Payson Oberg-Higgins to Southeast Regional Kidney and Hypertension Specialists and the hospital’s medical staff.

Dr. Oberg-Higgins earned her medical degree from University of Vermont College of Medicine in Burlington, Vt. She performed her Internal Medicine internship and residency as well as a Nephrology fellowship at Maine Medical Center in Portsmouth, Me.

Dr. Oberg-Higgins is board certified by the American

Board of Internal Medicine. She currently has a teaching appointment from Tufts School of Medicine and is adviser to students for the classes of 2013 and 2014 for Tufts School of Medicine in Boston, Ma.

Prior to moving to Vidalia, Dr. Oberg-Higgins was a partner in a large nephrology practice in Portland, Me. She has relocated to Vidalia with her husband, Dr. Peter Higgins, and their daughter Sally.

Misty Poole, MD

Janica W. Peavey, MD

Payson Oberg-Higgins, MD

Justin Osborne, MD

New Physicians Join Meadows Regional

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We’ve Moved to 125 Church Street

(the old Belk building )

12 exam rooms

Expanded waiting room with open

play area

Separate well-baby waiting room

Accepting New Patients912.538.8484

NONPROFIT ORG

U S POSTAGEPAIDITEK

One Meadows ParkwayVidalia, GA 30474

For Life!Winter 2012 EditionFor Life! is published as a communityservice by Meadows Regional Medical Center. Meadows Regional Medical Center is located at One Meadows Parkway in Vidalia, GA, online at www.meadowsregional.com and by phone at 912.535.5555. You are receiving this information because it is mailed to members of the community. If you do not wish to receive further newsletters, contact Elizabeth Harvill, Director of Marketing and Community Relations at Meadows Regional Medical Center, at 912.538.5892. If you have specific concerns about your health, please contact your doctor. ©2012, Meadows Regional Medical CenterA division of Meadows Healthcare Alliance, Inc.

Vidalia Children’s Center Growing up in a New LocationJust three years old, the Vidalia Children’s Center is growing fast. So fast in fact, that the practice has outgrown its facilities and has moved to a new location.

Vidalia Children’s Center serves patients ranging in age from newborn to 21 years. The pediatric medical practice recently moved from a six exam-room building to a 12 exam-room facility. Their new address is 125 Church Street, which most families will recognize as the old Belk building across from the Pal Theater.

The new location features an expanded waiting room with an open play area and a separate newborn “well” waiting room area.

The space enables Vidalia Children’s Center to add a nursing room and a certified lactation specialist to the staff. The primary benefit of the new facility is the ability to reduce wait times and see more patients.

“We’re excited about the new space,” says Office Manager Michelle Maybin. “We have room to better accommodate our patients, to make the wait time shorter and offer expanded services.” She adds, “That was our goal when we got the new space.”

The phone number for Vidalia Children’s Center, 912.538.8484, remains unchanged.

Physician Assistant Lauren Higgins, PA-CMeadows Regional Medical Center is happy to welcome Lauren Higgins, PA-C from the RT Stanley Health Center in Lyons, an internal medicine/family practice healthcare clinic.

Lauren graduated from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro and earned a master’s degree in Health Science; Physician Assistant Studies from South College in Knoxville, Tn. Lauren was a member of the Dean’s

List at South College and at Georgia Southern University.

She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She is also certified by the American Heart Association in Basic Life Support (BLS), Acute Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).

Lauren is a native of Statesboro, Ga.

Lauren Higgins, PA-C