Newton Rotary troops met at the Romano Conference Center this past week to present a check to the Newton Medical Center Foundation. A delicious gourmet meal was presented and we were treated to some interesting discussion from hospital personnel on their upcoming expansion of the emergency room areas.

 

Charles was going to start in the usual fashion but Jim Ferguson said that they need to start with the program stat as the Doctor and Nurse slated to speak need to get back to their duties.

 

Jim introduced Dr. Rudico, the Emergency Dept. doctor, presented a video overview of the NMH services and emergency room. He explained there are two main pods in the emergency area, the out-front team, who is responsible for determining the most urgent need and yet recognizing that small injuries are just as important as major ones. The inside Core team ,ER workstation, nurses and personnel that take care of paperwork, will be regrouped in proposed expansion, to be closer to all patient rooms, especially the most sick or needing care.  Dr. Rudico presented the Together Capital Campaign, to build a better experience for people visiting the ER, as a program to raise the funds to expand the ER. The ER current usage is 30,000 people yearly, doubled from the last expansion 15 years ago.  He also introduced Bessie Ziegenfuss who runs the ER department. She spoke from personal experience of many of the daily needs and how the expansion would be good for all.

 

Charles now took the rein with the pledge, Prayer and God Bless America. We welcomed guests Joyce, George’s wife who is going back to Florida soon, Dr. Paul Owens, Chief medical officer, Bessie Ziegenfuss, ER nurse and Dawn Sullivan.

 

 

Tom Digby :) for fantastic NMH facility and :( for realizing that the Romano Center used to be an Adult Mental Health Facility. Carl Lazzaro :( for empty signup spaces for the fair booth Dotty was :) for a stay she had at NMH, Carolyn and Bud were :) and Charles was :) for his daughter Chelsea was a server at today lunch and has worked at the hospital for a while, while she goes to school to be a dental technician.