 FirstHealth of the Carolinas is a not-forprofit organization dedicated to caring for people. It seems like a fairly simple obligation for a health system. After all, each day the individuals who are associated with FirstHealth work to improve patient lives through the practice of quality medical care.
Through careful research, administrators select stateof-the-art services and technologies designed to improve access and outcomes. Nurses and allied health professionals offer caring, compassionate service to patients and families. Health educators reach out with information designed to encourage early detection of disease and in some cases even prevent onset.
Yet, in reality, caring for people—even for a health organization—is anything but simple.
FirstHealth recognizes that one organization cannot be all things to all people. Ensuring a healthy community takes a collective network of services, agencies and individuals working toward a common goal. To that end, FirstHealth partners with area organizations to reach out with a broad scope of care.
FirstHealth employees dedicate many hours of service to a variety of volunteer programs ranging from memberships on boards to fundraising activities for community-based programs. (See a related story on page 48.)
“Our organization has been fortunate,” says Dan Biediger, FirstHealth’s vice president for Human Resources. “While many businesses and agencies have struggled through trying economic times, we have continued to grow and thrive. By giving back through our community benefit program, as well as charitable contributions through groups like the United Way and the Montgomery Crisis Fund, we are repaying the debt we owe our neighbors for their commitment and support.
“Our corporate philosophy embraces giving back and providing for. We work to encourage efforts that help all organizations care for the health and well-being of people.”
The United Way
Annually, FirstHealth employees participate in United Way campaigns that channel monies to appropriate local organizations. The United Way’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities.
In 1887, a Denver priest, two ministers and a rabbi recognized the need for cooperative action to address their city’s welfare problems. The Rev. Myron W. Reed, Msgr. William J. O’Ryan, Dean H. Martyn Hart and Rabbi William S. Friedman put their heads together to plan the first united campaign for 10 health and welfare agencies. They created an organization to serve as an agent to collect funds for local charities, as well as to coordinate relief services, counsel and refer clients to cooperating agencies, and make emergency assistance grants in cases that could not be referred.
That year, Denver raised $21,700 and created a movement that would spread throughout the country—the United Way.
Today, more than a century following its debut, the United Way is the nation’s single largest private charity. Currently, there are more than 1,350 local chapters throughout the United States. Together, they raise and invest significant resources to build strong, healthy communities. In 2004-05, the United Way system raised $3.86 billion (an increase of 0.7 percent over 2003-2004.)
While local United Way organizations tackle issues based on local needs, common focus areas include helping children and youth succeed, improving access to health care, promoting self-sufficiency and strengthening families.
Richmond Memorial Hospital President John Jackson serves on the board of the Richmond County United Way. “Our local United Way supports about 20 agencies in the community,” he says. “It is a tremendous benefit to FirstHealth and other Richmond County employers to be able to channel resources to a group who has already verified the need and helps ensure that funds are managed appropriately.”
Annually, FirstHealth is among the largest contributors to the United Way in both Richmond and Moore counties. Team leaders at the staff level promote the effort, and while giving is encouraged, according to Biediger and Jackson, it is not required.
“We understand that our employees each have their own giving priorities,” says Biediger. “The United Way is one option among many. We hope that our staff chooses to give back to their community. How they do that is ultimately up to them.”
In times of crisis
In Montgomery County, contributions from FirstHealth employees support the Crisis Fund—a community-driven assistance program for individuals and families in emergency situations.
The purpose of this special organization is quite simple: It is founded on the old-fashioned value of neighbor helping neighbor—Montgomery Countians working together to take care of their own.
“Our county has been hard hit by the decline in the textile industry and other economic issues,” says Kerry Hensley, president of FirstHealth Montgomery Memorial Hospital. “Those of us who have been lucky enough to have secure employment have a responsibility to give back to the community. Our employees are exceptionally generous. They want to give, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to give responsibly. When they contribute through FirstHealth to the Montgomery Crisis Fund, everyone wins.”
People in the community created the Montgomery Crisis Fund to reach out to those who have nowhere else to turn. Support through the fund is not intended to replace or supplement income. The funds are available to assist those individuals or families who, because of unusual circumstances, are unable to provide for their basic needs.
The Montgomery County Department of Social Services manages referrals and determines eligibility. An advantage of this process is that social workers may be able to connect a family with additional resources.
“Sometimes families who are in a critical situation are not aware of the programs available to help them,” says Jim Sanders, director of the Montgomery County DSS. “We screen those who are referred for Crisis Fund assistance, and in some cases we are able to find resources that offer even more help than the crisis fund.”
“The contributions from FirstHealth employees are the mainstay of funding for the Crisis Fund,” says Treasurer Janno Daniel. “Without their support, we wouldn’t be able to fulfill our requests for assistance.”
According to Daniel, resources from the Montgomery Crisis Fund have been used to purchase prescription medications, pay utility bills, provide temporary housing, replace losses from fires and assist with needs of foster children, including the purchase of necessary school supplies.
A priceless partnership
In an era where the art of being a good neighbor sometimes seems lost, FirstHealth and its associated physicians, staff and volunteers illustrate the successes born through hard work, dedicated service and kindness from one person to another.
“I have worked as a volunteer with United Way of Moore County for 15 years,” says Gerald Galloway, a retired chief of police for the Town of Southern Pines and past chair of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Moore County.
“In addition to delivering a quality health care to the residents of our region, FirstHealth always has exhibited a heart for the community as a whole. They have been a leader in their commitment to see improvements in the quality of life for all the residents of our area. We at United Way greatly appreciate our partnership with FirstHealth. It has a value beyond measure.”
BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss.—A little more than a year ago, Hancock Medical Center paralleled the growth of its surrounding communities, where a steady influx of new residents enjoyed life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Our medical center family of more than 600 employees, physicians and volunteers enjoyed a laid-back lifestyle with amenities like golf, fishing and boating near at hand. Hospital walls featured local artwork reflective of the Gulf Coast landscape. Youth sports, noisy local restaurants, bustling art and antique shops, and casino entertainment thrived in an eclectic mix of old and new.
Outdoor festivals showcased the community’s fun-loving, good-food-seeking, neighborly attitude … the same attitude that is slowly, but surely, putting the pieces back together after Hurricane Katrina.
A direct hit
In a community left reeling from Katrina’s knockout punch, Hancock Medical Center’s lockdown crew spent the first two days after the storm providing care to nearly 900 battered residents with no communication with loved ones or the outside world. In subsequent days, physicians, employees and friends made their way to the hospital as roads were cleared—greeting each other with tears, warm embraces and genuine relief.
Oppressive heat, no electricity, no water, no cellular service and little food are my vivid memories of the first weeks. The loss of all that is familiar lingers still.
The soaked contents of the hospital’s entire first floor needed immediate attention, as did the retrieval of medical records and salvageable supplies. Administrator Hal Leftwich and Facilities Services Director Hank Wheeler slept on pavement outside the building. All waking hours were spent coordinating the hospital’s plan for recovery.
A Disaster Medical Assistance Team (Homeland Security), with personnel from Iowa, Missouri and Florida, offered triage/emergency care on the hospital grounds. A Surgical/Medical Assistance Team, Carolinas One, brought North Carolina physicians and medical personnel to a field hospital constructed in a Kmart parking lot.
News coverage of the disaster prompted many to gather resources and travel to various parts of the affected areas, from Louisiana to Alabama. Hospitals with caring staffs like yours at FirstHealth of the Carolinas attempted to connect with their Mississippi Gulf Coast counterparts, although communication was difficult.
One of the first people to contact us was Bob Boone, Moore Regional Hospital’s vice president for Professional Services, who kept trying until he heard the voice of our administrator. Offers of assistance such as yours kept us moving forward.
Faith-based relief groups and individuals with trunks loaded with essential supplies were among the first to respond. Donations of food, clothing and basic supplies were critical, as nearly 75 percent of Hancock Medical’s staff lost possessions to Katrina’s wind and water. Many were left homeless.
Building back
Hospital employees who were willing and able to work took on the unpleasant task of emptying the building and salvaging its flooded contents. Wearing donated clothing and eating military meals ready-to-eat or peanut butter, employees pulled together and supported each other and the hospital’s difficult recovery.
We set a goal to reopen the hospital’s emergency services on Oct. 5, 2005. Nurses, technicians and support staff joined forces to make this happen, trading stethoscopes for paintbrushes. A makeshift ribbon-cutting heralded the fact that the hospital building was back in business, even if on a limited basis.
During the next few months, we celebrated other benchmarks: the opening of surgery, 25 inpatient beds (temporarily as a Critical Access Hospital), and labor and delivery. Each week revealed incremental progress.
Staff support
The HMC Foundation’s Hurricane Relief Fund was able to make a huge difference through an Employee Relief account, channeling donations directly to staff members facing monumental financial obstacles.
FirstHealth’s gift (a Wal-Mart gift card to each HMC employee) right before Christmas was a bright spot during a difficult holiday season. Most holiday keepsakes were gone, and many employees and their families were trying hard to celebrate the most joyous time of year in cramped FEMA-provided trailers. They will always be grateful for FirstHealth’s generous support.
We extend heartfelt thanks for prayers, financial contributions and donations of equipment from the FirstHealth family, as well as Pinehurst Surgical and the residents of Moore County and Moore Friends for Mississippi. You’ve made a real difference in our lives and our community.
Janet McQueen is director of Marketing and Development for Hancock Medical Center in Bay St. Louis, Miss. |
