By Tommy Mullins
Boone Memorial Hospital (BMH) opened its doors in 1964 with the philosophy of “People Serving People.” Its mission continues strong nearly 50 years later as each patient continues to be treated on an individual, personal basis and community initiatives thrive.
Boone Memorial Hospital has excelled in community outreach. For several years BMH received a $20,000 grant from the West Virginia affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Grant funds allowed BMH to distribute free mammograms to qualifying women. Ladies’ Night Out, an evening dedicated to breast health, was developed in 2007 and held for a few consecutive years. Over 125 women attended annually and enjoyed a catered dinner, gift bags and breast cancer education in a fun, informal setting. Keynote speakers included Dr. Judith Brendemeuhl; Kathy Hill, a nurse practitioner, and local breast cancer survivors. The event continues today due to a partnership with the local Julia Price Breast Cancer Foundation.
“The Julia Price group is one of many great partnerships and relationships we have built over the years. The members took over the Ladies’ Night Out and to this day still hold the annual event. We are so pleased it inspired another group to step up and see it continue for many years to come,” says Karlie Belle Price, public relations and marketing director. Other breast cancer awareness events include the hospital’s annual participation in Breast Cancer Awareness Day at the local courthouse and a Breast Cancer Walk organized by the BMH radiology department. This year the department raised over $800 for the cause.
A few years ago BMH implemented Shop Talk, a program that provided local beauticians and salon owners with breast cancer education kits, including 25 goody bags and educational materials. Beauticians were trained at a Shop Talk luncheon held at BMH to educate women on the importance of self-breast exams and mammography. This unique program allowed beauticians to educate their clients about breast health in a relaxed environment.
In 2008 BMH joined the American Heart Association in its fight against heart disease by participating in the Go Red for Women Campaign. Over 50 local women, including former First Lady Gayle Manchin, attended a prestigious luncheon held at BMH. Ladies dressed in red were photographed and placed on two large billboards in Madison and Danville in Boone County for the entire month of February in honor of American Heart Month. BMH also held a Go Red for Women fundraiser luncheon at the Fountain of Life Worship Center. Keynote speakers included former Secretary of State Betty Ireland, Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at BMH Matt Downey and heart attack survivors. Over $500 was raised.
In 2008 BMH received a grant in part from the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center and Appalachia Community Cancer Network to coordinate a Women’s Health and Spa Day at the BMH Medical Clinic, a rural health clinic. BMH worked in partnership with the WV Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program. Clinical breast exams and pap tests were offered to qualifying women. Guests enjoyed chair massages, catered lunch, facials, manicures, beauty tips and educational sessions presented by BMH health care providers. Sessions included physical fitness/nutrition, relaxation/stress and “ask the doc” (an informal question and answer session with BMH doctors and mid-levels).
In January 2008 BMH implemented its Healthy You Program, in which each month they host an educational luncheon or dinner free to the public. Topics vary from month to month. Popular sessions included Tips to Lose Weight and Eat Healthy, How to Relieve Stress, Anxiety and Depression, Diabetes Education, Skin Cancer and Keeping your Colon Healthy. BMH recently began offering these luncheons again due to their success.
“This has been one of our most popular events over the years,” explains Price. “We stopped doing them for a few years and realize the need for health education on a monthly basis in this type of relaxed format. After receiving calls and e-mails asking us to bring back the sessions, we implemented them again this year.”
For the past several years BMH has held a Drive Thru Flu Shot Clinic. “This too was one of our most successful events to date,” says Price. “The community really appreciated the convenience of the drive thru clinic. They simply drive up to the curb, pull up their sleeve and receive the shot. It’s fast and easy. We make the day a bit more fun by having it on various holidays. For a couple of years we held the drive on Halloween and dressed in costume; last year it was held on Veteran’s Day and we did a tribute to our veterans including cake, punch, a wall of salutes and free flu shots to all veterans. This year we held a food drive around Christmas and wore Santa hats. It helps draw more people in and makes the shot a little less scary, especially for children.”
BMH has also created a new community task force, All About Health, BMH Working for a Healthy Community (AAH). AAH has held multiple health education programs across the county on both large and small scales such as health fairs, exercise programs and innovative health education events. The group consists of over 30 members including physicians, retirees, students and other health care professionals and volunteers. Just last year they offered cooking shows in various grade schools and instituted an annual Pet Walk for Health that has brought in over 150 people and at least 50 or more animals.
Boone Memorial Hospital continues to offer an annual health fair in October. The event has nearly tripled in size from its initiation and has over 55 vendors and nearly 700 attendees. BMH continues to participate annually in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, sponsors at least three blood drives annually, a food and toy drive during the holiday season, tours of the facility for youth leadership programs such as the Girl Scouts and participates in various health fairs, festivals and celebrations across the county. Staff, including BMH nurses, have volunteered to read aloud in local elementary schools and administer blood pressure tests at community events. The laboratory department performs testing for the WV Cardiac Kids Program each year, and various other employees donate their time and talents throughout the area as needed. Staff also attended the local College and Vocational School Opening Day, which they hope to do on an annual basis.
In April BMH will celebrate 49 years of service to its community. The hospital’s most recent and exciting news, which will greatly benefit the community, is that they will have a brand new hospital within the next few years that will be available to patients for years to come. Boone Memorial Hospital also sponsors three medical students who, upon graduation, will return to BMH.
“The projects listed above highlight some of our most successful events over the past several years. However, we continue to add new projects and partnerships annually,” says Price. “People in our community truly value health education and often lack resources, especially in a rural area. We feel it’s vital to connect to the public while providing quality health care and offering resources and educational opportunities.”
About the Author
Tommy Mullins is the administrator of Boone Memorial Hospital where he has served in a number of capacities since 1964. He joined the staff as a bookkeeper the same year the hospital opened its doors and is currently the only remaining original employee. Mullins is also the longest-running hospital administrator in West Virginia (employed at the same continuous hospital). During his tenure as administrator, Mullins has watched the facility triple in personnel growth and has overseen numerous expansions. Plans are currently underway for a new hospital under the direction and leadership of Mullins.
