Brunswick Community Hospital and Novant Health recently received the 2011 President’s Award from Professional Research Consultants, a nationally-known healthcare research company.

Each year, PRC presents its top award to one organization or individual that has made an extraordinary contribution to healthcare, hospital spokeswoman Amy Myers said.

Brunswick Community Hospital and Novant were honored for their success in creating a customer-focused culture of service excellence throughout the organization.

Joe Inguanzo, president and  CEO of PRC, explained in a prepared statement why Brunswick Community Hospital and Novant Health were honored with his  organization’s top award.

“I’ve worked with hundreds of hospitals across the country and never have I witnessed such ease and success in incorporating new facilities into a culture like I observed with Novant Health,” Inguanzo said.

“Even for high-performing organizations such as Novant, when bringing new facilities into the fold, there are always indicators of misalignment and stress,” he said. “The first indicator I often witness  is that the patient, employee and physician loyalty scores at the new facilities are not as high as the rest of the system. This wasn’t the case with Novant. The success spreading their ‘Remarkable Experience’ culture is evident in how quickly the newest facilities provided excellent experiences.”

Paul Wiles, president and CEO  of Novant Health, said in a prepared statement that when hospitals and health systems consider joining another organization they often  consider culture as a priority.

“The organizations that have joined Novant over the past few years share our deep commitment to  providing service excellence to our patients, physicians and employees,” Wiles said. “We relentlessly focus on this commitment and an award such as this one helps validate our staff’s effort to provide remarkable service to all who entrust their care to us.”

Novant also received the PRC President’s Award in 2006, making the health system the only  organization to be honored twice with the award.

Since 2006, Novant has doubled the size of its physician medical group to 359 clinics and welcomed five new hospitals to the health  system, including Brunswick Community Hospital; Rowan Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, N.C.; Prince William Health System in Manassas, Va.; Franklin Regional Medical Center in Louisburg, N.C. and Upstate Carolina Medical Center in Gaffney, S.C.
The health system also opened a new hospital, Kernersville Medical Center in Kernersville, N.C., in March.

Novant Health leaders received the President’s Award at PRC’s recent Excellence in Healthcare Conference. The event included hospital leaders from across the United States who gathered to participate in the 2011 educational conference on healthcare service excellence.

Wilmington Health adds plastic surgery practice

Wilmington Health recently  welcomed Dr. Tor Ljung and his medical team to the organization.

Ljung’s practice, Azalea Coast Plastic Surgery, is a recent Wilmington Health acquisition. The team will be moving from its current location to 2421 Silver Stream Lane.

“At Wilmington Health, our growth is focused on providing our patient’s quality comprehensive care,” Jeff James, chief executive officer at Wilmington Health, said in a prepared statement.

“Our decision to incorporate  plastic surgery into our specialties was simple after meeting with Dr. Ljung. His expertise and passion for medicine align with our organizational mission and commitment to provide the best care possible.”

Ljung performs modern plastic and reconstructive procedures to  eliminate or minimize a wide range of physical abnormalities caused by accidents, diseases and congenital defects.

Additionally, Ljung does cosmetic surgical procedures for patients who want  to reshape physical features and improve their self-esteem, James said.

Ljung received his bachelor’s degree from Presbyterian College, Clinton, S.C. He completed medical school at East Carolina University, School of Medicine, Greenville, N.C., where he also performed his internship and residency in the Department of Surgery.

NHRMC offers children’s summer fitness camp

A new summer program for  children ages 7 through 11 will help kids learn about the importance of an active lifestyle and a healthy diet.

The Fitness Camp for Kids, offered by New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s Oleander Rehabilitation Center, is led by  exercise physiologists and therapists and is open to any child interested  in having fun and making healthy choices, hospital officials said.

Through games and team challenges, participants in the Fitness Camp for Kids will learn about  nutrition, endurance, strength and flexibility and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Educational  materials are provided for campers and parents. The six-week program runs Mondays and Wednesdays, from 4 to 5 p.m. June 20 through July 27.

“We are so pleased to be offering this program to children in our area. Not only will children have fun with the activities provided, but they will learn skills and lifestyle choices that they can take with them after camp is over,” Julie Hancock, hospital manager of outpatient services, said in a news release.

For more information on summer camps at NHRMC’s Oleander Rehabilitation Center, call (910) 452-8104 or visit www.nhrmc.org/kidscamps.

Wilmington Health expands its Hampstead practice

Lindsey Huckbody, PA-C, will begin seeing patients alongside Dr. Michelle Jones at Family Medicine in the Hampstead Village, 15444 U.S. 17, Building 9. The practice is part of Wilmington Health in Hampstead.

Jeff James, chief executive officer of Wilmington Health, said in a prepared statement that the healthcare organization “continues to seek opportunities for expansion.”

“When Ms. Huckbody’s previous office in Hampstead closed, it was the perfect opportunity for a partnership. She’s already established in the community and with her experience she’s a perfect fit for our organization,” James said.

As a physician’s assistant in Family Medicine, Huckbody collaborates with Jones to promote wellness care. She also diagnoses and treats non-surgical illnesses and disorders for patients of all ages.

Huckbody received her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Wis. She earned her master’s degree in allied health at the Methodist University Physician Assistant Program in Fayetteville, N.C.

Handwriting camp offered by Oleander Rehab Center

For children who struggle with handwriting exercises or want to get ahead for the next school year, a new summer camp may be the answer.

A Handwriting Camp for Kids is being offered by New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s Oleander Rehabilitation Center that allows children to practice essential handwriting skills, while completing fun and challenging activities, hospital officials said.

The Handwriting Camp for Kids is divided into three separate sessions with emphasis on different handwriting skills appropriate for different ages.

The first session lasts three weeks and is most appropriate for children ages 4 through 6. It focuses on instruction in capital and lowercase letter formation as well as number formation.

Session two is a two-week program for children ages 7 through 9 and offers instruction in sentence formation, spacing and legibility using printed words.

Session three offers instruction in sentence formation, spacing and legibility using cursive handwriting and is for children ages 8 and up, lasting two weeks. Handwriting Camps are offered from noon to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Dates vary depending on the session.

“We have found that when children have a chance to work with our occupational therapists on these skills, they are much more confident about their abilities when they head back to school,” Julie Hancock, manager of outpatient rehabilitation services, said in a news release.

For more information on summer camps at NHRMC’s Oleander Rehabilitation Center, call (910) 452-8104 or visit www.nhrmc.org/kidscamps.

Community User Program offers gymnasium use

For those who want to exercise  in a gym setting, but may have a health concern that prevents them from joining a fitness club, the New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s Community User Program could  provide a solution.

Offered at NHRMC’s Oleander Rehabilitation Center, the Community User Program is a way for people to enjoy exercise equipment, daily classes and a therapeutic pool while remaining under the eye  of the therapists and rehab associates of New Hanover Regional Medical Center, hospital officials said.

Equipment at NHRMC’s Oleander Rehabilitation Center includes treadmills, stationary bikes, stair machines and resistance equipment. Chair classes are offered to give participants a full body workout from the comfort of a chair.

The rehab center also includes a therapeutic saltwater pool that  provides an environment for low-impact exercise and relaxation.
The pool is available for classes and for independent exercise, said Julie Hancock, manager of outpatient rehabilitation services, in a news release. New participants  need a physician referral and an  initial assessment by a therapist to ensure safety.

Gym hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. For more information, call  (910) 452-8659 or visit www.nhrmc.org/communityexercise.