Among two in state to get money
Former VA nurse pleads guiilty to stealing morphine
Johnston Memorial Hospital chooses MSHA
Bristol Fire Dept. gets state grant
The Bristol squad will receive $605,811. Kingston, TN Fire Department will be receiving $592,635.
“SAFER provides resources to help fire departments across the Nation hire, recruit, and retain firefighters to ensure their communities are fully protected from fire and related hazards,” said FEMA Administrator David Paulison. “These firefighters also increase the capabilities of the fire service to respond to acts of terrorism and natural disasters.”
Congress appropriated a total of $115 million to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to carry out the activities of the SAFER grants. Appropriated funds are available for award until September 30, 2008.
SAFER Grants aim to assist a local fire departments' staffing and deployment capabilities, in order to respond to emergencies whenever they occur, assuring that their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards.
The SAFER grants have two activities that will help grantees in this endeavor: (1) hiring of firefighters and (2) recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.
Whitaker�s plea agreement states that Whitaker, who was licensed as a registered nurse in Virginia, was hired as a nurse at the James H. Quillen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (DVAMC) in October 2006.
By December 2006, DVAMC staff observed that Whitaker was withdrawing morphine from the hospital�s automated dispensing system at a rate almost three times that of other nurses, the morphine purportedly being withdrawn to be given to patients as needed.
When interviewed by investigators from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (DVA-OIG) and the Department of Veterans Affairs Police (DVAP) in late December 2006, Whitaker admitted that she had wrongfully taken morphine from the DVAMC reportedly to give to her husband. Whitaker was terminated as a DVAMC employee.
Public records of the Virginia Department of Health Professions indicate that the nursing license for Adam M. Whitaker, who had been licensed as a nurse in Virginia since 2004, was suspended in November 2006 after he was caught diverting morphine in June-July 2006 from Wellmont Lonesome Pine Hospital, Big Stone Gap, Virginia, where he was employed as a charge nurse.
Sentencing has been set for June 2, 2008, at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Greer in Greeneville. Whitaker faces a maximum penalty of four years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the Department of Veterans Affairs Police.
JMH Chief Executive Officer Sean McMurray said, �We are excited to be pursuing a 50/50 joint venture with the leading health system in our region, MSHA. This new affiliation gives us an outstanding opportunity to take health care at JMH to a new level for the benefit of our community.�
Johnston Memorial Hospital and Mountain States have similar histories, organizational structures and cultures of patient care. The two organizations are both not-for-profits controlled by local community leaders who sit on a governing board. With roots back to 1905, JMH is now a 135-bed modern medical center that is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and has more than 700 employees as well as 120 medical staff members.
�Mountain States Health Alliance has had a long-standing relationship with Johnston Memorial Hospital,� said Dennis Vonderfecht, MSHA President and CEO. �With the recent additions of Smyth County Community Hospital, Norton Community Hospital, Dickenson Community Hospital and Russell County Medical Center to the MSHA family, this partnership with Johnston Memorial Hospital completes MSHA�s presence in this part of our service area, the I-81 Corridor. We are pleased to be taking this step with JMH to create a seamless care delivery model for the benefit of residents of Southwest Virginia.�
The announcement is another step on JMH�s continued path of growth and positive change. The hospital recently completed the $22 million construction of a new, comprehensive, 60,000-square-foot Cancer Center, and also announced this winter plans for a new replacement hospital in Abingdon with an estimated cost of more than $100 million.
Vice President of the JMH Board of Trustees Otey Dudley said, �Our Board feels that JMH and MSHA make a great team because we share a common vision for the future of health care in this region. We believe our organizations match up well culturally and strategically. In addition, this partnership will enhance our plans to construct a first-rate replacement hospital. Our community will greatly benefit from this partnership.�
Both parties are hopeful this partnership will be final no later than Sept. 1, contingent upon approvals from state and federal agencies.
The last two years have seen unprecedented growth for the MSHA system since its creation 10 years ago when the not-for-profit, community-owned Johnson City Medical Center purchased six facilities in the region from a for-profit organization in Middle Tennessee. MSHA�s recent growth into Virginia has seen Smyth County Community Hospital, Norton Community Hospital, Dickenson Community Hospital and Russell County Medical Center all join the MSHA family.
tal, Woodridge Hospital, a service of JCMC, all in Washington County, Tenn.; Sycamore Shoals Hospital, Carter County, Tenn.; Johnson County Community Hospital, Mountain City, Tenn.; Indian Path Medical Center and Indian Path Pavilion in Sullivan County; Tenn.; Dickenson Community Hospital in Dickenson County, Va.; Smyth County Community Hospital in Smyth County, Va.; Norton Community Hospital in Wise County, Va; Russell County Medical Center in Lebanon, Va.; Blue Ridge Medical Management Corp. (operating the Blue Ridge Physician Group, First Assist Urgent Care centers and ValuCare Clinics in Food City) and Medical Center HomeCare and Hospice Services throughout the Tri-Cities region.
Daily News of Kingsport TN
310 East Sullivan Street, Kingsport, TN 37660
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