Free COVID-19 test site open in Blairsville

News, Press Release
union general hospital COVID-19

UNION COUNTY – District 2 Public Health is partnering with LTS to provide FREE COVID-19 drive-thru testing at the Union General Hospital in Blairsville. 

The health department assisted in opening the location to alleviate some of the stress on the hospital. LTS medical professionals will be conducting the onsite tests.

If an individual needs a COVID-19 test for work or school, or if they are feeling ill and would like to be tested for COVID-19 in Union County, the lab will offer Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests.  These are not rapid tests and it will take 36 hours for results.

Testing will be available Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. The testing site will be located at 35 Hospital Road, Blairsville, GA 30512.  The testing site will not be open on Labor Day, September 6.   

While no appointment is required, registration with LTS Labs is encouraged to decrease wait times at the testing site.  Registration information can be found at https://honumg.info/LTSGA015.

COVID-19 testing event at Union County Farmers Market

Community, News
Union County Farmers Market COVID-19 testing

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – The Union County Farmers Market is the location for a COVID-19 testing event from August 29 through September 2.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University have partnered together for the research event. They will be testing people of all ages every day this week, Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Local officials are supporting the event and anyone who can participate in clinical research can attend. Participants will be asked for nasal swabs, oral swabs, and/ or saliva in addition to the COVID-19 testing.

People who participate will receive a $50 gift card as compensation. The Farmers Market is located off Hwy 76 on 290 Farmers Market Way.

The Farmers Market event for Tuesday is canceled. Regular activities will resume on Friday, September 3.

The recent COVID-19 outbreak in Union County has resulted in the Farmer’s Market changing the Labor Day schedule for this weekend. The tractor parade will be a tractor show and they will be exhibited toward the Hunter/England cabin.

The Agriculture Hall of Fame ceremony will be an announcement.

Union County Farmers Market is highly encouraging masks and for anyone not vaccinated to consider getting the vaccine. Last week, the FDA fully approved the Pfizer vaccine. Anyone 12 and older can receive the Pfizer vaccine. Moderna and Johnson and Johnson are expected to be approved within the next couple of months.

93 percent of the COVID-19 patients at Union General Hospital are unvaccinated. The local hospital is 160 percent overcapacity in the ICU.

Of the 64 inpatients at UGH, 46 are COVID-19 positive and a total of 72 percent of inpatients have been COVID-19 positive. 43 of those 46 were unvaccinated and 3 were vaccinated.

Union General Health System has cared for over 800 COVID-19 patients since the start of the pandemic. They are currently experiencing the largest surge in the community.

Union County leadership pens letter regarding COVID-19 outbreak

Community, News, Press Release
union general hospital COVID-19
Dear Union County residents,
We want to take a few minutes to express our thoughts on the current increase in COVID-19 cases in Union County and to beg your assistance in helping us get through this difficult time. Here is what you need to know:
Union General Hospital is currently above capacity with patients in their hospital and in their emergency room and have been for a couple of weeks. The dedicated staff at Union General Hospital want to communicate that although they are at and beyond capacity, they will continue to do their best to take care of our community. Please don’t avoid coming to the hospital if you need care. We do want you to know that more than 80 percent of the patients admitted to the hospital are sick with COVID, and it is becoming more difficult to find beds for critical patients in any of the surrounding larger hospitals. We have added 263 new COVID cases since August 1st, with 76 of those in the last two days.
Each one of us loves Union County and wants to continue “business as usual”, so this is our reminder to everyone that we do not want to shut down our recreation activities, county facilities and programs, festivals, etc. So, we would like to encourage and remind you to wear a mask, social distance, wash hands, and even more important, get vaccinated if you can. Those with vaccines are much less likely to get severely ill and be hospitalized with COVID compared to those who are not vaccinated. Currently, at Union General, 92% of the patients who are admitted to the hospital with COVID are unvaccinated. This percentage has consistently been >90% unvaccinated.
Let’s all do our part to get through this difficult time and protect ourselves, our friends and family, and especially our children.
Union County Commissioner Lamar Paris and staff
Sheriff Mack Mason
Major Shawn Dyer
Honorable Raymond E. George, Chief Judge Enotah Judicial Circuit
Union County Fire Chief, EMA Director, and 911 Director David Dyer and staff
City Police Chief Bear Baxter
City of Blairsville Mayor Jim Conley
Union County 911 Dispatch Lt. Millie Baxter
Union General Hospital

Where to get vaccinated in Union County

COVID VACCINE INFORMATION at the Union County Health Department:
No appointment is needed. Can be done on a walk-in basis. All Vaccines are provided: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson
  • Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 8:00 AM- 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM -4:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 8:00AM-11:00 AM and 1:00PM-6:00 PM
  • Friday is 8:00 AM-11:00 AM
Location is 67 Chase Drive, Blairsville GA
Local pharmacies are also offering the COVID-19 vaccine. Some require appointments and others do not.

Union General Hospital Receives ACC Advanced Heart Failure Accreditation

Community, Health, Press Release
ACC

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognized Union General Hospital for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with heart failure. Union General Hospital was awarded Advanced Heart Failure Accreditation in April based on rigorous onsite review of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients with heart failure through pre-hospital care, early stabilization, acute care, transitional care, clinical quality measures and more. Union General is the only hospital in the state of Georgia to receive this exceptional accreditation and the 3rd in the nation.

Heart failure is a condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen. Facilities earning Advanced Heart Failure Accreditation not only demonstrate management of advanced heart failure, but also provide heart transplant and mechanical circulatory support and meet other specific criteria for the Advanced designation.

Hospitals that employ an evidence-based, protocol-driven and systematic approach to managing heart failure have been able to reduce time to treatment, and are able to identify and predict high-risk patients while also reducing length-of-stay and hospital readmissions.

“Union General Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to providing Union County and surrounding counties with excellent heart care,” said Phillip D. Levy, MD, FACC, chair of the ACC Accreditation Management Board. “ACC Accreditation Services is proud to award Union General Hospital with Advanced Heart Failure Accreditation.”

Hospitals receiving Advanced Heart Failure Accreditation from the ACC must take part in a multi-faceted clinical process that involves: completing a gap analysis; examining variances of care, developing an action plan; a rigorous onsite review; and monitoring for sustained success. Improved methods and strategies of caring for patients include streamlining processes, implementing of guidelines and standards, and adopting best practices in the precise care of heart failure patients. Facilities that achieve accreditation meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria and have organized a team of doctors, nurses, clinicians, and other administrative staff that earnestly support the efforts leading to better patient education, improved patient outcomes, and more effective and efficient disease control.

“We are excited to have our team’s efforts recognized for advanced excellence,” Julia Barnett, Union General Chief Nursing Officer said. “Not only does our staff provide quality care for heart failure patients in the hospital, but we’ve made it a priority to help educate these patients and our community on how to manage their symptoms in order to reduce the need for them to be admitted to the hospital for care.”

Union General Hospital is a licensed and accredited 45-bed, not-for-profit healthcare facility that serves the North Georgia and surrounding Tri-State communities. Over the past two years, Union General has received two recognition’s from the American College of Cardiology including Chest Pain Accreditation and now Advanced Heart Failure Accreditation. This dedication to continuous improvement of heart care proves Union General’s commitment to providing the highest quality heart care to their patients.

The ACC offers hospitals like Union General Hospital access to a comprehensive suite of cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance. These services are focused on all aspects of cardiac care, including heart failure.

The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its more than 52,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who met stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org.

State of the county following COVID-19 shutdowns

Community, Health
county

UNION COUNTY, Ga – Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris gave a brief update on how Union County is faring while many residents try to find a sense of normalcy.

Over the course of approximately one month, Union County’s cases grew by 20. Out of the 43, only eleven of those patients needed hospitalization and one death. Union General Hospital had one active patient as of May 22. Previously, multiple beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients.

“We’re very fortunate up here,” stated Paris. “The fact that we’ve only got one in the hospital is a great sign. Does that mean we’re only going to have one? No. Does it mean we’re out of the woods yet? No. But we feel that what we have done in the county is very preventative.”

The commissioner added that those over 65 and with preexisting conditions are still under the Gov. Kemp’s stay at home order until June 13.

“We just have to remember that this thing still is serious. My concern going forward is people are going to – like me, like all of us – are just tired of it. Just like wearing [masks] or not wearing [it],” expressed Paris.

He wanted everyone to continue to be cautious and follow social distancing. He did encourage masks wearing in public areas and to use common sense to try and flatten the curve.

“Employees at those stores are the ones who really notice it. They feel like if you don’t wear one, then you’re not concerned about protecting them,” said Paris.

Whether or not to open the Meeks Park pool is currently being debated because current COVID-19 protocols limit use to 50 people at one time. Also, all chairs must be disinfected each time the person using one leaves the facility. If the county decides to open, it might have to hire someone to sanitize all surfaces in and around the pool.

“It’s not only what you’re going to do and how you’re going to do it, but it’s what’s the governor’s going to do. Is he going to loosen the guidelines or tighten the guidelines?” Paris commented on the rapidly evolving situation.

On a positive note, county sales tax revenue for April is slightly up from the same time last year. However, this isn’t expected to last. Also, the state still must unveil its 14 percent budget cuts, which will affect some areas of the county.

The city of Blairsville reported tax revenue numbers similar to last year as well. Currently, COVID-19 hasn’t significantly impacted the city’s budget, but again these numbers could change as the year progresses.

Across the board, it’s too early to determine the financial impact of COVID-19.

Union General Hospital to receive remdesivir for COVID-19 treatment

Community, Health
hospital union general health system

Atlanta – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) this week is distributing 18,440 vials of the drug remdesivir received from the federal government. Nearly 85 hospitals in Georgia (complete list below) will receive remdesivir, enough to treat about 1,676 patients with COVID-19 infection, depending on the duration of an individual’s illness and treatment needs.

Remdesivir is an antiviral medicine being used to treat hospitalized patients with serious symptoms caused by COVID-19 like low oxygen levels or pneumonia. It has been found to shorten the duration of disease in patients being treated in inpatient hospital settings. Remdesivir is given intravenously (IV) and decreases the amount of coronavirus in the body, helping patients recover faster.

Georgia hospitals receiving remdesivir had patients who met the federal criteria for treatment including COVID-19 positive patients on ventilators, in addition to patients currently being treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a machine that takes over the work of the heart and lungs.

Remdesivir has not been approved by the FDA for widespread use because it is considered investigational and it is still being studied. Remdesivir was originally developed for use against Ebola. Clinical trials for remdesivir were done in Georgia at Emory University Hospital.

For more information about COVID-19 visit https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

For updates on the COVID-19 situation as it develops, follow @GaDPH, @GeorgiaEMA, and @GovKemp on Twitter, and @GaDPH, @GEMA.OHS, and @GovKemp on Facebook.

List of hospitals receiving remdesivir.

Union General releases new guidelines, designates sick and well clinics

Health, News, Press Release
hospital union general health system

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – In a press release issued by Union General Health System, the medical facility is updating its operating procedures and establishing sick and well clinics in the community.

In response to the Blairsville City Council’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency Ordinance, Union General Health System will no longer perform elective procedures/diagnostic testing, until further notice. The decision to perform procedures will be on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the patient’s physician, based on the needs of the patient.

*If you have a procedure or diagnostic testing that has already been scheduled, you will be contacted by the hospital if it needs to be postponed or rescheduled.

Beginning on Monday, March 30th, Union General Health System will designate certain clinics as either sick clinics or well clinics.  Union General Family Medicine will be designated as a sick clinic seeing both sick children and sick adults, Union General Pediatrics will be designated as a well clinic only performing well-child visits and the Union General Hospital Young Harris Clinic will be designated as a well clinic only performing well-adult visits.

As a reminder, for the safety and well-being of our patients and staff, Union General Hospital and Chatuge Regional Hospital, are currently on lockdown, until further notice. All doors are locked and will remain locked except the Main Entrance/Emergency Room Entrance at Union General Hospital and the Emergency Room Entrance at Chatuge Regional Hospital. No visitors will be allowed until further notice.

If you need treatment at either facility, a wellness screening will be performed. A series of questions will be asked and your temperature will be taken. If you have a fever and respiratory symptoms and have traveled within a widespread affected area within the past 14 days, or had exposure to someone with a confirmed COVID-19 case, please ask for a mask immediately.

 

All Union General Health System affiliated facilities have taken COVID-19 precautions. Some of these include, the Union County Nursing Home and Chatuge Regional Nursing Home are no longer allowing any visitors into their facility to help protect the health of their residents. The Union General Wellness Center and Union General Hospital Suches Clinic have closed indefinitely to help reduce the spread of the virus.

Union General told Fetch Your News that its respective nursing homes are following CDC guidelines for long-term care facilities. These guidelines include:

  • Restrict all visitation except for certain compassionate care situations, such as end of life situations
  • Restrict all volunteers and non-essential healthcare personnel (HCP), including non-essential healthcare personnel (e.g., barbers)
  • Cancel all group activities and communal dining
  • Implement active screening of residents and HCP for fever and respiratory symptoms

COVID-19 is being increasingly reported in communities across the United States. It is likely that SARS-CoV-2 will be identified in more communities, including areas where cases have not yet been reported. As such, nursing homes should assume it could already be in their community and move to restrict all visitors and unnecessary HCP from the facility; cancel group activities and communal dining; and implement active screening of residents and HCP for fever and respiratory symptoms.

Here’s a copy of the CDC emergency preparedness checklist for nursing homes.

For more information on COVID-19 and the latest updates to Union General Health Systems facilities, please visit www.UnionGeneralHealthSystem.com.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh2dCWk85Zw

“Lockdown”: Union General and Chatuge Regional close to visitors

Announcements, Community
union general hospital COVID-19

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – For the safety and wellbeing of our patients and staff due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Union General Hospital and Chatuge Regional Hospital, will both be on lockdown effective immediately.  All doors will be locked and remain locked except the Main Entrance/Emergency Room Entrance at Union General Hospital and the Emergency Room Entrance at Chatuge Regional Hospital. No visitors will be allowed until further notice.

If you need treatment, you will be asked a series of questions and your temperature will be taken.

If you have a fever and respiratory symptoms and have traveled within a widespread affected area within the past 14 days, or had exposure to someone with a confirmed COVID-19 case, please call us from your car at (706) 745-2111 or ask for a mask immediately!

Most elective procedures will continue for now, but please consult your physician to discuss whether or not your procedure should be delayed.  COVID-19 screenings and precautions will be taken before, during and after your procedure.

Union General Health System owns and operates 21 affiliated facilities within the Tri-State area. All of the other affiliated facilities have taken precautionary COVID-19 measures as well. Some of these include, the Union County Nursing Home and Chatuge Regional Nursing Home are no longer allowing any visitors into their facility to help protect the health of their residents. The Union General Wellness Center has closed indefinitely to help reduce the spread of the virus. The Union General Child Care is only providing care for health care worker employees at this time so they can continue working and providing care to our community. All of the affiliated clinics and doctors’ offices will be screening their patients before providing treatment to help reduce the spread of the COVID-19.

Union General Hospital’s community events/meetings have been canceled until further notice. For more information on the COVID-19 and the latest updates to Union General Health Systems affiliated facilities, please visit www.UnionGeneralHealthSystem.com.

Feature image courtesy of the hospital’s Facebook page.

Union General CFO graduates from Leadership GHA

Business, Health, Press Release
Union General Nick Townsend

PRESS RELASE – Union General Health System CFO, Nick Townsend, graduated from the Leadership GHA Class of 2019-20, a prestigious health care leadership program of the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA), on Friday, January 10th, 2020. Townsend was one of only 19 hospital employees from around the state accepted into the most recent class.

“Completing the rigorous Leadership GHA program allows graduates to develop essential skills to help them advance in their health care careers and, ultimately, take patient care to the next level,” said GHA President and CEO Earl Rogers. “We congratulate each of these future leaders.”

Nick Townsend has worked four years with Union General Health System, one year with Community Health Systems as Assistant CFO, and three years with Murray Medical Center as CFO for a total of eight years in Healthcare Administration. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration with a Major in Finance, and a Master of Business Administration.

Responding to the need to develop new leaders to take the reins of tomorrow’s hospitals and health care systems in Georgia, the GHA Board of Trustees unanimously endorsed the creation of Leadership GHA in 2003. The six-month program, which begins each summer, uses a variety of techniques to educate participants on the unique and diverse issues that characterize Georgia’s health care system. The program includes workshops, conferences, panel discussions and field trips to different types of hospitals and health systems throughout the state.

Graduates of Leadership GHA are encouraged to use their newly acquired skills to transform and improve Georgia’s health care system and their individual communities. To qualify for participation in the Leadership GHA program, individuals from Georgia hospitals and health systems must be nominated by GHA-member hospital CEOs. An impartial selection committee reviews the nomination applications and selects a limited number of participants for the program.

Founded in 1929, GHA serves more than 170 hospitals in Georgia and promotes the health and welfare of the public through the development of better hospital care for all Georgia’s citizens. The mission of GHA is to advance the health of individuals and communities by serving as the leading advocate for all Georgia hospitals and health care systems. GHA represents its members before the General Assembly and Congress, as well as state and federal regulatory agencies, and is an allied member of the American Hospital Association.

Feature image courtesy of Union General Hospital.

Former Union General Hospital Officials Back in the News

News

Blairsville, GA – John Michael Gowder, more commonly known as Mike Gowder, former Chief Executive Officer of Union General Hospital, Inc., which controlled the Union County entity known as Union General Hospital Authority, was indicted in both Union and Towns Counties on multiple counts of Fraud in Obtaining Controlled Substances (O.C.G.A. 16-13-43(a)(3)) and Violation of Georgia Controlled Substances Act (O.C.G.A. 16-13-30(a)). Gowder was indicted in Towns County in July 5, 2017 on 32 counts and in Union County on July 7, 2017 on 4 counts. Gowder’s associate, former Board Member of Union General Hospital, Inc., Dr. James Lanier Heaton, was indicted in Union County on July 7, 2017 on 44 counts in connection with this case. Due to the large amount of indictments being processed in the Union County Clerk of Superior Court Office, Fetch Your News was not able to obtain hard copies of the Union County indictments on Gowder and Heaton; therefore, we are not yet privy to the substance of the violations they were indicted for in Union County. However, we will update this story with the particulars of the indictments as soon as they are available.

Dr. James Lanier Heaton, age 60.

Dr. George David Gowder III, age 59

Gowder’s brother, George David Gowder III, and his niece, Jamie Lee Harkins, were both indicted April 20, 2017 on 66 counts in connection with this Union General Hospital scandal (see May 1, 2017 FYN article).

Jamie Lee Harkins, age 36

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at www.fetchyournews.com

Expansions viewed, accomplishments discussed at Union General board meeting

Business, News

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. – During the Board of Directors meeting Tuesday, Feb. 27, administrators of Union General Hospital got a first-hand look at some the hospital’s newest expansions and renovations on the campus.

Lewis Kelley, chief executive officer of Union General, took officials on a guided tour of the hospital’s forthcoming orthopedic wing to be shared by Dr. Ronald A. Macbeth Jr. and Dr. Douglas Nuelle. The wing features three exams for each doctor as well as one fracture room and one x-ray room to be shared by both physicians. It is large enough to support three total providers and contains a spacious waiting room for patients.

Chief Executive Officer Lewis Kelley, left, and other hospital administrators get a preview of the x-ray room at Union General Hospital’s new orthopedic wing.

According to Kelley during the tour, the wing is a renovation of one of the oldest areas of Union General and is expected to open the second week of March.

Next, hospitals hopped in vehicles and took a short ride down Deep South Farm Road from the main facility to to get a look at a new two-story medical office facility that will be leased to family practice physician, Dr. Thomas Gary, and Northeast Georgia Cardiology. Gary’s family practice will occupy the top, street-level floor of the new facility while the bottom floor will serve as the new home of Northeast Georgia Cardiology. Gary’s space will consist of 20 exam rooms and will host seven total healthcare providers, according to Kelley. The Northeast Georgia facility will feature state-of-the-art open work space amenities complete with 18 exam rooms, a treadmill room and nuclear stress test room.

Back at the board meeting room within Union General, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Julia Barnett gave a brief medical staff update for Chatuge Regional Hospital in Hiawassee. Barnett reported the medical staff is working to improve customer service throughout the facility in an effort to improve Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores for the facility. As a result, all bedside nurses are now performing callbacks for all inpatients, Barnett stated.

Officials and administrators from Union General Hospital preview a new medical office building located on Deep South Farm Road just down from the main hospital facility in Blairsville.

“We already do those here at Union. I’m pleased to hear (Chatuge) is doing that, so on all their inpatients, observation patients, swingbed patients – so anybody on the inpatient side, they’re having the bedside nurses call for follow-up phone calls … and they have plans to start ER (emergency room) callbacks soon in the future,” Barnett said.

Ryan Snow, assistant administrator, presented an update on the forthcoming Chatuge Behavioral Health facility, set to open March 5 in Hiawassee. “We’re very excited about that,” Snow said.

Snow also stated Georgia Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) Frank Berry recently toured the facility and was pleased the progress at Chatuge. “It was nice to be able to show him some of things that we were looking at (in) expanding our footprint in mental health in Hiawassee,” Snow stated.

Bringing the focus of the meeting to Union General, CNO Barnett reported to the board UGH received a five-star rating according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare website report in December 2017. Barnett went on to say UGH is one of only six hospitals in Georgia to receive such a rating and no other medical facility in the region holds the same distinction. According to Barnett, UGH will hold the five-star rating at least until June 2018 when the newest ratings from CMS are released.

CMS rates over 4,000 hospitals nationwide on its Hospital Compare website and bases its ratings on 57 quality measures within seven areas of focus: mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience, effectiveness of care, timeliness of care and the efficient use of medical imaging. Only 337 hospitals across the nation received a five out of five star rating in CMS’ December release.

Barnett also announced UGH was ranked number 43 in the top 100 SafeCare Hopsitals in the nation, which falls in the top 1 percent nationwide in hospital safety. According to Barnettt’s report, UGH was the only hospital in Georgia ranked in the top 100 in this category.

Chief Operating Officer (COO) Michael Gay gave a construction update and stated the hospital would relocating its endoscopy staff to a temporary area within the next two weeks to allow renovation of the hospital’s endoscopy wing. Gay said the construction would likely take 12 to 14 weeks to complete.

Gay also mentioned the new parking employee lot directly across Deep South Farm Road is nearing completion.

“We’re working very closely with the county now to go ahead put in the lights for the crosswalk … but we actually do not want to start utilizing that area until we get those lights up and going. The county said that we’re probably about three or four weeks away from being able to have that completed,” Gay explained.

The COO also read an email he had received from the hospital’s valet parking supervisor, Michael Gailey. Gay reminded the board of how busy the hospital has been recently and said, “One of things that people see when they walk in this building is our valet people.”

In the email, Gailey shared with Gay the story of a couple who had needed to frequent the hospital several times a week for the past six months. Gailey told of the attentiveness and kind service the valet staff had shown to the couple during their visits to the hospital. Recently, the husband stopped by the valet station, and as the attendant offered to retrieve the wheelchair from the couple’s vehicle for the man’s wife, the man told the attendant that was not necessary. The man explained to the attendant his wife had passed away earlier that morning and that his wife told him the night before, “Please go by and tell the attendants what an impact they’ve had on my life.”

“A lot of times we hear a lot of the negatives that go on,” Gay said. “I just wanted to share something that – although it’s such a tough time for this person in (his) life – what this hospital and that valet parking meant to them.”

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that attracts more than 300,000 page views and 3.5 million impressions per month in Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYNTV attracts approximately 15,000 viewers per week and reaches between 15,000 to 60,000 per week on our Facebook page. For the most effective, least expensive local advertising, call 706-276-6397 or email us at [email protected]

Author

Jason Beck

Born in Merrillville, Indiana, raised in Cleveland, Tennessee, and currently resides in Copperhill, Tennessee. Graduated from Bradley Central High School in 1996 and attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, eventually earning a B.A. and M.A. in English. Hobbies include hiking, camping and fly-fishing. Interests include baseball, hockey and cliff jumping.

Rayfield presents school security and safety update

News
conferences

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. – During the Union County Board of Education (BOE) work session Tuesday, Feb. 20, Dr. Fred Rayfield, superintendent for Union County Schools, delivered an update on school security and safety procedures in the wake of the recent school shooting in Florida.

Rayfield stated there are three non-negotiable duties for which all employees of Union County Schools are responsible: teach students, protect students and act ethically and professionally.

The superintendent clarified that all security and safety plans and protocols for Union County Schools have been approved by the state and Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), and Union County has been used as a model for other north Georgia school systems to follow.

Dr. Fred Rayfield, superintendent of Union County Schools, updates the Board of Education on school safety and security policies and measures Tuesday, Feb. 20.

“Every aspect is reviewed annually,” Rayfield said of the school system’s security and safety policies. “Safety enhancements and additions are an ongoing priority.”

Currently, according to Rayfield, Union County Schools employ three school resource officers (SROs) from the Union County Sheriff’s Office as well as two security officers and one security guard who mans the guard shack at Union County High School.

Additionally, other system-wide safety features include a required picture ID for all school system employees, security cameras inside and outside of facilities, security cameras on buses, thorough visitor sign-in processes, secure “buzz-through” main entry points at facilities, 24/7 monitoring of electronic threats and messages on social media and other online outlets, and on-site panic buttons.

Rayfield explained the school system has spent over $715,000 over the last five years on these and other safety enhancements for schools, which averages to $271 a student spent for safety and security measures.

“I can assure you,” Rayfield told the audience at the meeting, “that there are some things in place here that make me feel very good about where we’re at with security and that we’re making progress toward getting better … I believe that we do everything that we can to protect kids no matter what the situation, and I applaud the (BOE) for appropriating the resources over the last three to five years .”

Following Rayfield’s presentation, BOE member Janna Akins stated, “I think it’s hard to fathom that we’ve got kindergartners that we should be concerned about in these kind of situations, but that’s just the times that we live in now. This information was very helpful, and I appreciate the board and the school system’s approach of not just having a reactionary plan but an ongoing plan to make (safety) a priority.”

Also during the work session, Courtney Waller, school nutrition program director, presented a slight revision to the school system’s wellness policy. Waller explained the policy, according to federal mandates, must be reassessed every three years

According to Waller, the revision would change the wording from “all food and beverages made available on campus during the school day shall be consistent with the minimum requirements of federal law” to “all food and beverages available for purchase …”

Later, in the regular meeting, as the board was about to approve the revision, Rayfield explained this proposed revision must remain tabled for 30 days before final approval can be made to change the policy.

In the regular meeting, Superintendent Rayfield awarded two presentations with the first being an art student recognition awarded to second-grader Emma Taylor. Taylor’s design was selected for use on the Union County School System Christmas card in 2017. “Thank you for a beautiful piece of artwork,” Rayfield told Taylor.

Next, Rayfield presented representatives from Union General Hospital – Lewis Kelley, chief executive officer, Michael Gay, chief operating officer, and Leslie Daniel, administrative liason – with a Partner in Education award.

“They do a tremendous amount of work throughout the school system to provide lots of services for our students and employees,” Rayfield said of the hospital’s partnership with Union County Schools, “and we’re just absolutely excited to recognize Union General Hospital as our community partner for this month.”

In other business, the BOE unanimously approved, as submitted, all principals’ quarterly reports, the monthly financial reports, fiscal year 2018 budget amendments, and personnel recommendations.

 

 

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that attracts more than 300,000 page views and 3.5 million impressions per month in Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYNTV attracts approximately 15,000 viewers per week and reaches between 15,000 to 60,000 per week on our Facebook page. For the most effective, least expensive local advertising, call 706-276-6397 or email us at [email protected]

Author

Jason Beck

Born in Merrillville, Indiana, raised in Cleveland, Tennessee, and currently resides in Copperhill, Tennessee. Graduated from Bradley Central High School in 1996 and attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, eventually earning a B.A. and M.A. in English. Hobbies include hiking, camping and fly-fishing. Interests include baseball, hockey and cliff jumping.

Union General talks parking expansion during monthly board meeting

Business, News

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. – Chief Executive Officer of Union General Hospital Lewis Kelley recommended to the hospital’s Board of Directors at their monthly meeting Tuesday, Nov. 28, to proceed with plans to expand parking at its Blairsville facility.

Kelley explained the hospital owns a forested strip of a land adjacent to Union General that, if cleared, would allow for approximately 50 more parking spaces. The lot, located just across Deep South Farm Road, would be used for employee parking and would make available more spaces in its main lot for patients and visitors to the hospital.

“We’re in desperate need of parking,” Kelley told the board. “If you come over here on some of our days, every piece of parking we have is full.”

Kelley stated about 50 trees would need to be cut and cleared, and the bid cost for site development is approximately $49,600. The CEO further explained paving for the lot would not be able to completed until spring; however, prior to the paving, the lot could be graveled to allow for sooner use. Kelley also stated the hospital would speak with Union County Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris about the possibility of adding a crosswalk with a caution light to provide employees safe crossing from the lot.

Though the amount for the project is under Kelley’s $50,000 spending limit, the CEO asked the board to approve the expenditure, which was approved unanimously.

Kelley also brought to the board’s attention the need to replace a piece of ear nose and throat (ENT) equipment for the operating room that failed two weeks prior to the meeting. According to Kelley, hospital officials are evaluating the situation and taking bids to replace the equipment. The equipment, Kelley stated, would cost between $190,000 to $225,000. Currently, the hospital is using a piece of equipment on loan from a private company until a permanent replacement can be attained, according to Kelley.

Also during the meeting, Julia Barnett, chief nursing officer for Union General, announced the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gave the hospital a five-star rating for the quarter in its latest quality measures rating. “I just want you all to understand how hard that all of our folks have worked to get to a five-star rating,” Barnett said.

In addition, Chatuge Regional Hospital in Hiawassee received a four-star rating from CMS.

The board also approved the hospital’s updated Organizational Plan for Patient Care Services, which, according to Barnett, is a CMS required document that outlines and explains all of Union General’s patient services and is updated annually.

Chief Financial Officer Nick Townsend delivered the monthly financial statement and reported Union General has netted $2.5 million this fiscal year to date in comparison to $3.6 million this time last fiscal year. Rising healthcare and health insurance costs across the industry, Townsend stated, are contributing factors to the decrease.

Townsend also reported Union General received $74,000 from the Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit while Chatuge Regional received $17,000 from the tax credit. As for the hospital’s clinics, Townsend stated, “Overall visits continue to trend upward each month.”

Michael Gay, chief operating officer, presented a construction update for the hospital’s orthopedic wing expansion stating the demolition phase has been completed and walls have been constructed in the wing. Gay estimated a completion date of February 2018 for the construction.

 

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Author

Jason Beck

Born in Merrillville, Indiana, raised in Cleveland, Tennessee, and currently resides in Copperhill, Tennessee. Graduated from Bradley Central High School in 1996 and attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, eventually earning a B.A. and M.A. in English. Hobbies include hiking, camping and fly-fishing. Interests include baseball, hockey and cliff jumping.

Dr. David Gowder indicted on at least 66 counts

News
Enotah Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jeff Langley

Enotah Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jeff Langley

Dr. David Gowder, former Board Member of Union General Hospital Authority and Board Member of Union General Hospital, Inc., was indicted by a Union County Grand Jury on Thursday and Friday on 66 counts including improerly prescribing medications and 4 counts of forging another doctor’s name on a prescription, according to a phone interview with Enotah District Attorney Jeff Langley late Friday afternoon. Langley said Jamie Lee Harkins is a co-defendant in the case. Harkins is believed to be Dr. Gowder’s niece and was indicted on four counts of retrieving medications under another person’s name. Dr. Gowder was indicted last year in Fannin County, GA on similar charges.

Mike Gowder, a dentist at one time, and former President of Union General Hospital and Dr. James Heaton, former CEO of Union General Hospital, Inc., have been arrested, but not yet indicted in Union County in connection with this case.

Gail Nicholson Gowder, wife of Mike Gowder, and Virginia Lou Harkins, Dr. Gowder’s sister, and, mother of Jamie Lee Harkins, have also been arrested but not indicted in Union County in connection with this case.

It appears that Dr. Gowder and the Board of Union General Hospital Authority formed Union General Hospital, Inc. which leased Union General Hospital Authority for 40 years, which gave them control of the hospital with little or no public oversight.

Fetch Your News will have more on this story as it unfolds.

Former Union General administrators arraigned in federal court

News

GAINESVILLE, Ga. – According to a release from the Northern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office, three former administrators of Union General Hospital were arraigned Monday, April 9, in federal court in Gainesville, Georgia.

John Michael Gowder, Dr. David Gowder, and Dr. James Heaton, all of Blairsville, Georgia, were all indicted on federal charges for illegally prescribing and obtaining thousands of doses of prescription pain medications outside the usual course of professional medical practice and for no legitimate medical purpose.

From 2011 to 2015, John Michael Gowder, 60, served as chief executive officer of Union General while Dr. David Gowder, 61, served as the hospital’s emergency room director and Dr. James Heaton operated a family practice clinic in Blairsville during that time, according to the release.

As part of an Operation SCOPE (Strategically Combatting Opioids through Prosecution and Enforcement) investigation conducted by the Northern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office the Gowders and Heaton were indicted for illegally prescribing and obtaining doses of oxycodone, hydrocodone and alprazolam. During their affiliations with Union General, the Gowders and Heaton, according to the release, personally filled illegal prescriptions at local pharmacies in Georgia and crossed state lines filling prescriptions at pharmacies in North Carolina and in Tennessee.

The release alleged the names of other physicians were forged in writing illegal prescriptions and the Gowders themselves abused their administrative roles at Union General to intimidate employees of Union General into concealing the unlawful acquisition of the controlled substances.

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Union County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee County (North Carolina) Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency and the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway Drug Task Force.

Author

Jason Beck

Born in Merrillville, Indiana, raised in Cleveland, Tennessee, and currently resides in Copperhill, Tennessee. Graduated from Bradley Central High School in 1996 and attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, eventually earning a B.A. and M.A. in English. Hobbies include hiking, camping and fly-fishing. Interests include baseball, hockey and cliff jumping.

Union General Hospital, Inc hosts Health Fair

Community

The Union General Hospital held its Health Fair on Saturday morning, April 30th and offered several opportunities for anyone wishing to check up on their health.

They offered lab work, vision and hearing tests, ultra sound for your neck to check for blockages and much more. There was also a quick class on CPR. Union General Hospital is located in Blairsville, so be sure to check with them if you missed the health fair they can still help you with your health questions or visit them online Union General Hospital Website. 

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