Farm Fit Field Trip
On May 9-11, second-grade students from Batesville, Sunman, Jac-Cen-Del and Milan elementary schools had the chance to experience farm life through Margaret Mary Community Hospital’s Farm Fit program. Farm Fit is a field trip experience designed to show students the benefits of gardening, healthy eating and physical activity.
Check Presentation
Margaret Mary Community Hospital is the latest healthcare organization to partner with Marian University to build its new College of Osteopathic Medicine, part of the Michael A. Evans Center for Health Services. MMCH is investing $150,000 over the next 10 years to support the new medical school, an investment that is expected to benefit the hospital and the community for years to come.
“There is currently a physician shortage in Indiana, especially in rural areas, and it is expected to only get worse without institutions like Marian University stepping up and increasing the number of well trained physicians,” said Dr. Tim Putnam, President and CEO of Margaret Mary Community Hospital. “We are excited that our partnership with Marian’s new medical school will help us address this challenge by providing students unique rural health exposure that will complement their academic instruction. Although it will be nearly a decade before we see the direct fruits of this initiative, the partnership should enable us to train and recruit quality physicians who are well prepared for the challenges of healthcare.”
Hospice 5k
On April 28, approximately 250 runners and walkers took part in Margaret Mary Community Hospital’s 14th annual Hospice 5k. Through the event, more than $5,600 was raised for MMCH Hospice, a program that helps those who are no longer actively seeking a medical cure, but wish to live as comfortably and pain-free as possible. The Hospice program accepts all patients regardless of ability to pay. Services not covered by private insurance or Medicare are often funded by donations, such as those received through this event.
The Hansen Center awarded
For the second consecutive time since opening its doors in 2005, The Hansen Center has been granted The Outstanding Achievement Award from the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons. This prestigious award was recently given to only two cancer programs in the state of Indiana and only 106 (or 22 percent) of all accredited cancer programs across the United States that were surveyed in 2011.
Established in 2004, the CoC Outstanding Achievement Award (OAA) is designed to recognize cancer programs that strive for excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients. The award is granted to facilities that demonstrate a Commendation level of compliance with seven standards that represent six areas of cancer program activity: cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical management, research, community outreach and quality improvement. The level of compliance with the seven standards is determined during an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor. In addition, facilities must receive a compliance rating for the remaining 29 cancer program standards.
New Physician Center
Construction is underway on Margaret Mary’s new Physician Center located just off State Road 229 near The Hansen Center. When finished, the center will house pediatric, surgical, OB/GYN and family practice office space. Expected completion is November 2012.
