March 17, 2002
By Rozella Hardin
STAR STAFF
rhardin@starhq.com
Can you make a silk purse from an old sow's ear?
The answer to "silk purse making," of course is "probably
not."
Carolyn Bradley (with cooler) and
Pearl Smith load up meals for the elderly and homebound for
home delivery. Meals are delivered daily by volunteers to
participants in the Meals on Wheels program. Photo by Dave
Boyd.
From Staff Reports
Since Sycamore Shoals Hospital (SSH) opened Nov.
23, 1986, the facility has been growing to meet the medical
care needs of residents of Carter County and surrounding areas.
Sycamore Shoals Hospital added Magnetic
Resonance Imaging equipment in September of last year. Photo
by Dave Boyd
By Rozella Hardin
STAR STAFF
rhardin@starhq.com
Sycamore Shoals Hospital in addition to a larger,
better-equipped emergency room and a new MRI facility, last
year opened a geriatric/psychiatric unit.
Carter County
Health Department dispenses doses of preventive medicine every
day
By Rozella Hardin
STAR STAFF
rhardin@starhq.com
The Carter County Health Department delivers
spoonsful of healthy medicine every day. It is called preventive
medicine and according to Dwain Austin, local director, it
is the best medicine.
Dr. Julia Vines, DDS, swabs young
Mikala Dial as assistant Kristy Carr assists at a dental clinic
at the Carter County Health Department. Photo by Rick Harris
Wings
Air Rescue serving Carter County
By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
Over the past few months Wings Air Rescue
has seen a dramatic increase in its number of flights. It
has exceeded regular monthly flight volume each of the past
five months.
Wings Air Rescue works in conjunction
with local EMS to provide Carter County with fast and effective
medical transportation. Photo by Dave Boyd
By Rozella Hardin
STAR STAFF
rhardin@starhq.com
Massage therapy is the fastest growing health
profession in Tennessee. Luster Shell, a massage therapist,
has been operating her own business since 1996, when she graduated
from the Blue Ridge School of Massage.
By Rozella Hardin
STAR STAFF
rhardin@starhq.com
Nursing home employees are special people, but
volunteers are just as special, as they visit and do small
things because they want to, not because they get paid for
their services.
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
KINGSPORT -- Traditional home medical equipment,
home oxygen and other home respiratory services are tremendously
more utilized now than in the past, according to J. Craig
Higgins, owner and Chief Executive Officer of Mediserve.
By Rozella Hardin
STAR STAFF
rhardin@starhq.com
Just as a diabetic takes insulin, people with
fears, and those suffering from depression and obsessive compulsive
disorders, need treatment as well. It may be in the form of
medication or therapy, but it is just as important as insulin
is to the diabetic.
By Rozella Hardin
STAR STAFF
rhardin@starhq.com
Carter County has six nursing homes and an adequate
number of nursing home beds for the foreseeable future says
Scott Oliver, director of Life Care Center of Elizabethton.
By Rozella Hardin
STAR STAFF
rhardin@starhq.com
Nursing homes in Carter County compared favorably
to others in the state and country in inspections as found
on the Web site, medicare.gov. All information is from the
facility's last survey.
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
brobinson@starhq.com
Home health care is fast becoming a popular and
cost-effective adjunct to hospital and nursing home care.
By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
The Johnson City Health and Fitness Center is
having success with its new state of the art training program.
The Schwinn Fit Advisor program offers innovative assistance
to members working to improve their health.
By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com
Heart disease is a serious problem in
Carter County and surrounding areas, according to Dr. Shobha
Hiremagalur, MD, FACC. Public awareness is increasing, but
there is still room for improvement, Dr. Hiremagalur said.
By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
First Medical, 1505 W. Elk Ave., has been
providing quality health care for Elizabethton families for
the last six years. The practice is made up of 10 doctors
and nurse practitioners specializing in Family and Internal
Medicine, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Pediatrics.
By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
Business has boomed for Sycamore Shoals Catering
since it began as an extension of the hospital in 1989. The
catering service is being called on to provide the refreshments
for many of the community's social events.
By Kathy Helms-Hughes
STAR STAFF
Carter County Rescue Squad is holding its own
in this tough time of economic recession.
By Amy Stevens
Wellmont Hospital
On 29 acres in north Johnson City, bulldozers
are shaping the land. Architects are crafting a state-of-the-art
design.
