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January 2008 Newsletter
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Baptist Union City
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Health Tip
Use fat-free toppers - jam/jelly, mustard, salsa, fat-free yogurt, or sauces. Daily Bread
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 |
 Keeping Informed of Hospital Business Community Members Sit on Hospital Committees Hospital patient safety committee meetings often deal with very sensitive and difficult information as department managers share about safety in their departments. It’s certainly not the type of meeting you’d usually invite a member of the public to attend. However, one Baptist hospital does just that with someone who has devoted his professional life to the community and has the respect of all those who know him. A little more than a year ago, Howard Ragsdale began attending Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City’s patient safety committee meetings. Dr. Ragsdale, retired since 1994, practiced family medicine in Union City for about 40 years. “Every hospital has some kind of relationship with the community it serves – it can be beneficial or detrimental,” said Dr. Ragsdale following the hospital’s November committee meeting. “I think having a member of the public shows a level of trust between this hospital and the community, and being a retired physician, I can also approach each issue through the eyes of a physician and patient.” And that’s exactly why Chief Nursing Officer James Caldwell thought Ragsdale would be perfect for the role. Community members also serve on the hospital’s safety, physician recruitment and strategic planning committees, as well as the Service First council. Ray Ferguson, a retired lab director, serves on the safety committee, Dale Vinson, whose wife is director of quality, serves on the Service First council. Jim Cooper sits on the physician recruitment committee and Curt True serves on the strategic planning committee. “You have to have someone who can be an advocate for the public and the hospital,” Caldwell said. “Dr. Ragsdale communicates community concerns to us, and if someone has a concern about the hospital, he has knowledge to be able to help. He’s been here since we began the committee, and he’s the perfect community member to fill that role.” Bringing the community into hospital meetings is a way to share Baptist Union City’s commitment to serving the community and providing exceptional care. “I appreciate the hospital’s concern with patient satisfaction,” Caldwell said. “By involving community members in the hospital’s day-to-day activities, it lets me know they are serious about doing the right thing for the community.”  Top of Page |
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In keeping with the three-fold ministry of Christ — healing, preaching and teaching — Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation is committed to providing quality health care. |