Shelbyville, Tennessee ~ Tuesday, May 13, 2008

New ambulance station may go unstaffed (05/13/08) The alternative austerity budget proposals being asked for by county officials, if adopted, could mean that a brand new BCEMS station now under construction in Airport Industrial Park, behind the new Heritage Medical Center, would go unstaffed. BCEMS board member Whitney Neeley, at the board's regular monthly meeting Monday night, said that the budget would be a step backwards from BCEMS's efforts to reduce response time in rapidly-growing or heavily-populated rural areas...

Health, safety festival planned for October (05/09/08) United Way of Bedford County will partner with Bedford County Health Council to turn its annual child safety day into a health and safety festival including a health fair and a 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) run. The plan was discussed at the United Way Board of Directors meeting Wednesday...

Couple raises autistic grandson (05/08/08) Life changed considerably for Ed and Tina Ruth when Ed's job brought him from Lebanon to Shelbyville. They had barely settled into their new home when their 5-year-old granddaughter, Eileen, came to live with them a month later. Soon Eileen was joined by her brother, Aidan, 8, who had been diagnosed with autism...

Teen pregnancy problems discussed (05/06/08) Bedford County Health Department is joining other areas Wednesday in recognizing the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. The health observance was established in 2002 to focus the attention of teens on the importance of avoiding pregnancy, parenthood and other serious consequences of sex...

Autism hits family doubly hard (04/30/08) If there are challenges in having an autistic child, those challenges more than double when there are two. Ronnie and Jeanne Edwards' two older children, Mark, 14, and Jonathan, 11, were diagnosed with autism when they were toddlers -- and while Jeanne was pregnant with their third child, Mary Margaret....

New EMS hall rises near new hospital (04/28/08) Walls have risen at the new Bedford County Emergency Medical Services station in Airport Industrial Park. The station, built on land donated by Wal-Mart Distribution Center, will become the new headquarters and administrative offices of BCEMS, a short distance away from the new Heritage Medical Center which opens this summer. BCEMS's existing headquarters on Union Street will remain open as an ambulance station...

Utility plan for BCNH will cut costs (04/24/08) Bedford County Nursing Home presented a plan Tuesday night to the county's Financial Management Committee which will allow it to separate its utility services from the Bedford County Medical Center building. Earlier this year, some county officials, hearing that it would cost up to $50,000 per month to operate the boiler which serves both buildings, were concerned that the nursing home would become a drain on county finances once the hospital moves to a new location this summer. ...

A year later, Odom's license revoked (04/17/08) Over a year after a Bedford County paramedic was sentenced to 35 years in prison after nearly 200 sex crimes charges, Tennessee's Board of Emergency Medical Services finally revoked his license. Edward Raven Odom, 31, accepted a negotiated sentence of 35 years in February after he was charged in April 2006 with child rape, rape and statutory rape over a period of several years...

Legendary sheriff's daughter to speak (04/17/08) Friday evening's "It's in the Bag" fundraiser, which benefits Community Clinic of Bedford County, will feature special guest speaker Dwana Pusser. The event will feature a silent auction at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. Dress is casual. Community Clinic of Bedford County serves the working uninsured...

Local woman convicted of TennCare fraud (04/17/08) A Bedford County woman has been convicted on TennCare fraud charges, state officials reported Tuesday. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) said Deborah Ann Jewell, 51, of Shelbyville, pleaded guilty to one count of TennCare fraud and was ordered to repay TennCare $4,686...

Commissioners call nursing home survey too hasty (04/09/08) Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night against a public opinion survey to determine the fate of Bedford County Nursing Home, saying it is premature until the county has more facts about the situation. The county Financial Management Committee had recommended the survey after an unscientific Times-Gazette web poll showed a majority of participants in favor of selling the nursing home. ...

Clinic fund-raiser to feature Pusser's daughter (04/07/08) Community Clinic of Bedford County has gone country! The clinic, which provides medical care to the working uninsured, announced its annual fundraiser event, "It's In The Bag (Goes Country)," will be held April 18 at the Blue Ribbon Circle. Dwana Pusser-Garrison, daughter of the late McNairy County sheriff, Buford Pusser, will be the guest speaker...

County panel wants survey on nursing home issue (04/02/08) Inspired in part by the results of an unscientific Times-Gazette web poll, Bedford County Financial Management Committee said Tuesday night it would like to conduct a more scientific poll of local attitudes towards selling Bedford County Nursing Home...

Tracy bill promotes health insurance (03/31/08) The Tennessee State Senate has given final approval to legislation to let more small business owners join together to negotiate lower health insurance rates. Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) is one of the sponsors of the bill, SB 4014, which is designed to encourage more small employers to purchase health insurance, and give them predictability and stability in health-insurance rates...

Bredesen pushes long-term care plan (03/28/08) Gov. Phil Bredesen said that his own mother, last year, was in a position where she was too sick to be home alone and yet not disabled enough to be in a nursing home. Fortunately, she had "a son who knows a little bit about the system," in the governor's words, and he was able to arrange for her needs to be met...

Shelbyville man to lead Marshall EMS (03/26/08) LEWISBURG -- A Shelbyville man has been named interim director for Marshall County Emergency Medical Service by the county's emergency medical services committee. James Whorley, 42, of Candlewood Estates, is one of three shift supervisors for MCEMS, headquartered at offices in the ambulance station on South Ellington Parkway in Lewisburg...

Learn CPR; you could save a life (03/26/08) On Saturday, you have a chance to learn a skill that could save someone's life. The Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold "Save a Life Saturday," with free CPR training this weekend at five locations including Shelbyville Recreation Center. The training will be from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday at each location...

Poll respondents split on selling nursing home (03/25/08) Participants in a non-scientific poll on the Times-Gazette web site are divided on the issue of whether the county should sell Bedford County Nursing Home, but a majority support the idea. The question was worded simply: "Should Bedford County sell Bedford County Nursing Home?"...

'I just want to have a normal life,' says teen on dialysis (03/22/08) Shana Mosavi is like any 17-year-old girl. She loves to talk on the phone with her friends, dreams of going to college and would love to get married and have a family one day. But unlike most teenage girls, Shana was born with a rare physical disorder, Vater Syndrome -- and doctors didn't expect her to live beyond age 5...

Interest shown in nursing home (03/19/08) A representative of a company which might be interested in buying Bedford County Nursing Home appeared Tuesday night before Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee. County commissioners are deeply divided on the issue of selling the home. ...

Commission gets update on new hospital (03/13/08) Dan Buckner, CEO of Bedford County Medical Center and its replacement hospital, Heritage Medical Center, briefed Bedford County Board of Commissioners on the progress being made towards opening the new hospital on July 12. Commissioners voted several years ago to sell the county-owned hospital to Brentwood-based Community Health Systems, with one of the conditions being that a new facility, considered essential for the hospital's survival, be constructed. ...

Type 'O' donors needed during blood drive (03/10/08) Blood donors are desperately needed -- especially those with type O -- according to the American Red Cross, which will hold a blood drive Tuesday from noon until 6 p.m. at the Regions Bank location on Elm Street (at the corner of Elm, Madison and Main)...

Hospital CEO says new facility will draw patients (03/06/08) An estimated 60 percent of Bedford County residents go elsewhere for their hospitalization needs, but the new CEO of Bedford County Medical Center told city officials that the new Heritage Medical Center should turn that trend around. That was the message Dan Buckner had for Shelbyville City Council Tuesday as he briefed them on what to expect when the new facility opens on July 12...

Motlow nursing grads beat the averages (03/05/08) Motlow State Community College nursing graduates last year did measurably better than the state and national average on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for registered nurses, according to Marian Stewart, interim director of nursing at the college...

Nursing home loss explained (02/28/08) Bedford County Nursing Home had an operating loss in the 2006-2007 fiscal year which ended last June, but non-operating income made up the difference and kept taxpayers from having to foot the bill. That was the report during discussion of the nursing home's 2006-2007 audit at Tuesday night's meeting of Bedford County Financial Management Committee...

County could save on medications (02/28/08) Bedford County may consider participating in a new program which would let county agencies like the jail and EMS buy medications at a greatly reduced cost -- but the county must find a local pharmacist who is willing to serve as a contact point. The program was discussed Tuesday evening by Bedford County Financial Management Committee...

Physicians tour new hospital facility (02/27/08)

Buckner offers healthy view of new hospital (02/23/08) A new era of health care is on its way for Bedford County, an official of the new Heritage Medical Center proclaimed Friday. Dan Buckner, Bedford County Medical Center's CEO, hosted a "town hall" meeting Friday in which he promised Bedford County a new hospital of which it can be proud...

Community Clinic marks 5th year (02/21/08) Imagine this: You're working hard during tight times to provide for your family, you get sick, and can't afford to go to the doctor. You don't have insurance so the expense of a doctor's visit might mean your family doesn't eat dinner that week. You also can't justify taking time off work to make that trip to the doctor...

Hospital wants a new image with its new name (02/15/08) "We're not moving into this hospital as who we were," said Dan Buckner, as he showed a reporter around what will be called Heritage Medical Center, now under construction in Airport Industrial Park. The changes which occur this July will be both real and cosmetic, as Bedford County Medical Center renames itself Heritage and moves into a new 104,000-square-foot facility...

New hospital to be Heritage Medical Center (02/15/08) Bedford County Medical Center will be re-named Heritage Medical Center when it moves into its new $40 million, 104,000-square-foot facility in Airport Industrial Park in mid-July, according to new CEO Dan Buckner. Buckner was named interim CEO of the hospital in December, and became its permanent CEO on Monday...

Hospice offers relief in life's final days (02/09/08) Most people have heard of hospice care, but it's something people don't really become informed about until they need it -- and, often, they need it much earlier than they become informed about it. Hospice of the Highland Rim has served Bedford and surrounding counties including Cannon, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy and Moore for 12 years...

Tracy nursing home bill draws fire from consumer group (02/06/08) A consumer watchdog organization is slamming State Sen. Jim Tracy of Shelbyville for his introduction of a bill that that critics claim would restrict the rights of nursing home victims and their families. However, Tracy and proponents of the bill say that a large number of nursing home lawsuits and their verdicts have driven the liability cost per bed here in the Volunteer State to second highest in the nation...

Tracy bill would ban health care for convicted lawmakers (02/05/08) A bill sponsored by State Sen. Jim Tracy that would keep former members of the General Assembly from receiving healthcare benefits if they are convicted of a felony for misuse of their office has been approved by the Senate State and Local Government Committee...

'Philly girl' finds a second home (02/04/08) Obstetrician Jan Crean started practicing with the Bedford County Medical Center in August 2007, becoming the second board certified OB-GYN to join the medical staff since Community Health Services bought the hospital. "BCMC and CHS are committed to making it possible for people not to have to leave the county to get the care they need," Crean said. ...

Jack of all trades now a delivery expert (02/02/08) Local obstetrician Dr. Dennis Wieck loves the joy involved in delivering babies. "People are so happy and upbeat when it comes to having babies; there are just a lot of ups," Wieck said. That's what drew him to obstetrics when he was in medical school...

A special space for Hailee (01/25/08) Hailee Green is in for a real treat thanks to Special Spaces, a Knoxville-based charitable organization that's giving the 8-year-old Shelbyville girl a palace all her own. A palace in the form of a special bedroom, that is, decorated to perfection based on Hailee's needs and wants...

Young cancer patient to appear on TV (01/19/08)

Local woman charged with TennCare fraud (01/14/08) A Bedford County woman is accused of TennCare fraud for trying to use benefits to pay for an altered prescription for the addictive painkiller Hydrocodone, a state spokeswoman said Friday. Christine A. Sullenger, 28, of Shelbyville is being prosecuted by Coffee County District Attorney Mickey Layne, according to the state Office of Inspector General. Sullenger's arrest was a result of joint efforts by the Bedford and Coffee counties' sheriff's departments...

Two staph cases at Post Office (12/15/07) Shelbyville's post office is taking precautions to make sure the potentially deadly MRSA or "staph" infection isn't spread through the mail after two employees became infected with the bacteria. The T-G received a call Thursday from a concerned citizen who claimed that Shelbyville's postmaster Larry Ellis was allowing a postal employee with a staph infection to continue to work, possibly exposing the public to the bug...

Saving Chloe's heart (12/15/07) Since birth, Chloe Taylor has fought her way through 27 bouts of pneumonia, three open heart surgeries, 15 catheterizations and 15 artery dilations. She's only three. "We're still looking at several more surgeries," said Sandra Taylor, Chloe's mother, who hopes doctors will someday be able to correct her daughter's serious heart defects...

Macri leaves as hospital CEO (12/06/07) Bedford County Medical Center announced Wednesday that Bill Macri has resigned as chief executive officer. He had served as BCMC's administrator since February 2003 and was CEO during the sale of the hospital by Bedford County to Community Health Systems...

Flu season light so far, but shots still timely (12/06/07) Tennessee has had only scattered cases of flu and flu-like illnesses reported across the state so far this flu season. The flu season, which can last from October through May, often peaks in Tennessee in January and February. So, is it too late to get a flu shot? Local health officials say no...

Local resident charged with TennCare fraud (11/29/07) A resident of Bedford County has been charged with a felony count of TennCare fraud. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) Monday announced the arrest of Deborah Ann Jewell, 51, of Bedford County. Jewell is accused of fraudulently obtaining benefits she was not entitled to and theft of TennCare services less than $10,000. ...

For young cancer patient, it's time to give thanks (11/20/07) Isaiah Travers, his parents, and his siblings know what Thanksgiving means. After a tumultuous few months, they're beginning to see light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. The dark tunnel began with Isaiah being diagnosed with a brain tumor. But he finished his last of 31 radiation treatments last week, and the family is seeing plenty of light as Thanksgiving approaches...

Nursing home gift drive enters second year (11/15/07) Last year, Lindsey Sudberry and Kecia Johnson came up with an idea to provide Christmas gifts to residents of Bedford County's nursing homes. It went far better than they ever imagined, with over 1,900 gifts donated, far beyond the 237 that had been requested...

County to retain nursing home for now (11/14/07) Bedford County Board of Commissioners, in a narrow 8-9 vote, chose Tuesday night not to seek proposals from companies interested in buying the county-owned Bedford County Nursing Home. The commissioners who supported the measure said it was just a first step which would have given the county an idea of what the nursing home is worth, and that it is only financially prudent for the county to explore its options considering existing debt and capital expenses looming in the future...

Centerstone opens new high-tech facility (11/09/07) A state-of-the-art behavioral health care facility serving Bedford County was formally introduced to the community Thursday morning. Centerstone's offices on South Wall Street off Madison Street in Shelbyville serve as a prototype for future facilities, officials emphasized...

Doctor's building breaks ground (11/06/07) A ceremonial groundbreaking was held Monday for Bedford Physicians Plaza, a medical office building on the campus of the new Bedford County Medical Center. Henry Trost of Franklin-based First Colony Healthcare, which is developing the project, noted during the ceremonies that ground has already been broken. But the company, as well as BCMC, took the opportunity to celebrate anyway, sticking their shovels into a pile of dirt at the corner of the already-prepared pad...

Courts could move from courthouse (10/31/07) During a study session Tuesday night, members of Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and county property committee discussed the idea of moving courts and judicial offices out of the county courthouse -- and moving the non-judicial fee offices back in...

Schools brief parents on staph (10/29/07) Bedford County schools are educating parents about steps to take to prevent an infection of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), also known as staph, following recent cases reported in Tennessee schools. Schools around the county have been hit with the drug-resistant bacterium, with recent infections in this state involving a Dickson County High School student and at a Rutherford County kindergarten...

Yoes grateful for life, supportive of Heart Walk (10/18/07) It was two days after Thanksgiving in 1999, and Jeff Yoes had just finished watching the Tennessee college football game on TV. He went out to sweep the driveway and it wasn't long until he started feeling sick. The more he swept, the worse he started feeling...

Corker defends S-CHIP vote (10/10/07) U.S. Sen. Bob Corker told an open meeting audience in Shelbyville on Tuesday that he voted for the recent S-CHIP health care bill, not because it was perfect, but because it helped provide health care to children living in poverty or near-poverty. "I'm going to err on the side of them having health care," said Corker, a Republican who was formerly the mayor of Chattanooga...

Riders fight MS (10/08/07) Over 800 bikers took to the road on Saturday to raise money and awareness for the fight against Multiple Sclerosis (MS). They stopped for lunch at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy on Unionville Deason Road before heading towards Motlow State Community College, where they camped overnight. ...

Clinic robber's next stop: prison (10/05/07) LEWISBURG -- A Hohenwald man was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison Wednesday for robbing a Chapel Hill medical clinic last year; he pepper-sprayed the proprietor during the crime. In a Bedford County-related development, Dr. Robert W. Delaplane, 81, previously of Thompson Road, surrendered his medical license last summer because of state Health Department findings. He was one of North Medical Clinic's two physicians when it was robbed Dec. 20...

Flu shots readily available this year (10/05/07) Flu season is right around the corner and the Bedford County Health Department is ready to offer flu vaccine to area residents. There is no shortage of vaccine this year and the health department says supplies will be available to anyone wishing to be protected from the flu this season...

Heart Walk planned Oct. 28 (10/02/07) Whether making deals or cutting costs, businesses know that what happens today can shape tomorrow. That's why local companies will take steps toward stronger, healthier lives at the American Heart Association's annual Heart Walk at 1 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the Fly Arts Center on South Main Street...

Native returns to save local hearts (09/29/07) A woman who grew up in Shelbyville is returning twice a month as a heart doctor to treat patients at a clinic which was established by Vanderbilt University Medical Center a couple of years after she graduated from Central High. Dr. Julie Boyd Damp, 32, now lives in the Green Hills area of Nashville, with her husband, Pete, who's an emergency room physician at St. Thomas Hospital. Their daughter, Anna Claire, will be a year old in two weeks. She was born at Vanderbilt, where her parents met...

State hopes smoking ban is a motivator (09/26/07) Tennessee Commissioner of Health Susan R. Cooper said the statewide ban on smoking in public places which takes effect Monday may be just the impetus some people need to kick the tobacco habit. Cooper spoke by telephone with the Times-Gazette on Tuesday afternoon from her office in Nashville...

Flu shots are just around the corner (09/20/07) With fall rapidly approaching, local health officials want to remind everyone that flu vaccination time is just around the corner as well. According to Sherry Adams, public information officer for the region state health department in Columbia, area clinics are not expected to experience a shortage as was the case in previous years...

Emergency response volunteer meeting planned (09/08/07) Tennessee Department of Health's South Central Regional Office is conducting emergency response volunteer meetings throughout the region during September. The purpose is to train or retrain persons who have volunteered to assist in the seven Points of Dispensing (mass clinics or PODs) that will be put into operation if an emergency situation occurs to make that action necessary...

Hospital topped out, doctors honored at ceremony (09/07/07) Bedford County Medical Center held a topping-out ceremony at its new facility on U.S. 231 North on Thursday, honoring the facility's long-time doctors before hoisting the final girder into place. CEO William Macri compared the two, saying that just as a building's framework and foundation determine its shape, a hospital is shaped by its staff...

Bliss battles obesity with cross-country walk (09/06/07) With obesity becoming a growing concern for people across the country, various weight loss methods like pills, diets and exercise programs are becoming more and more popular. Or you can try what Jason Bliss is doing -- walk across the country. Bliss, or Jaybo as his friends call him, has seen hard times as of late, suffering from deep depression following the collapse of his marriage, as well as declaring bankruptcy due to those problems. ...

Product recall involves Shelbyville (09/04/07) A voluntary recall involving pies sold at Shelbyville's Kroger store was announced over the weekend. American Pie, LLC, has voluntarily recalling 1440 cases of its Marie Callender Turtle Pies with date codes 07 (from military time 11:45 up to and including 16:00) 143 because the product was inadvertently shipped prior to the company obtaining satisfactory microbial test results...

State health officials urge caution (08/24/07) As the heat wave continues, state Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper encourages Tennesseans to stay cautious; meanwhile, Bedford County Emergency Medical Services reported only one heat-related complaint during the first night of the Celebration on Thursday...

Benefit battles breast cancer (08/17/07) Sunday afternoon is for reclining, reflecting and basically catching up for the week ahead. "This Sunday afternoon," said Tamara Smith, the co-hostess of the event, "is for awareness, education and spreading hometown support to those with cancer." The Horizons of Hope is an annual event in Bedford County. ...

Blanton retires ... again (08/16/07) For the second time now, Dr. Ted Blanton is retiring. In 1997, Blanton retired from his medical practice as an ear, nose and throat specialist in Mississippi and moved to Shelbyville with his wife Barbara to be close to their daughter, Dr. Diane Watson, and her expanding family...

Blood donations fall short (08/10/07) "We don't know where our donors have gone," said Linda Decker. Decker works with the blood services department of the American Red Cross's Tennessee Valley Region. Over the past year, Shelbyville's support of American Red Cross blood drives has plummeted from 50 units of blood each month to fewer than 30. Some months, as few as 15 units have been collected...

Keep your horses safe from high heat (08/08/07) There is no doubt that Bedford County is horse country. As temperatures soar, many people may know to take care of themselves and pets but often don't consider what variables calculate together to equal extreme heat conditions for horses as well. According to State Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN, temperatures at or near 100 degrees demand people to take extra caution...

Wyatt is new administrator at Glen Oaks (08/02/07) As the new administrator at Glen Oaks Convalescent Center, Brad Wyatt is committed to caring for the elderly and helping to "make their golden years golden. Vanguard Healthcare Services of Brentwood is the new owner of Glen Oaks, having purchased the facility from the Walker family of Murfreesboro in June. ...

Take hot weather precautions (07/30/07) The dog days of summer have arrived and with the heat index soaring, folks need to take precautions to avoid trouble. According to forecasters, temperatures for this week are expected to stay in the mid 90s with a very little chance for thunderstorm activity. The heat index may rise to 100 degrees and above since the dew point expected to rise through the upper 60s to low 70s this week...

New therapy makes swallowing easier (07/12/07) People with dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, now have help available to them thanks to the new outpatient therapy program at Glen Oaks Convalescent Center. Speech pathologist Rebecca Lancaster oversees the VitalStim Therapy program that was started earlier this year and helps people with dysphagia learn how to swallow once again...

Therapy available for problems swallowing (07/12/07) People with dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, now have help available to them thanks to the new outpatient therapy program at Glen Oaks Convalescent Center. Speech pathologist Rebecca Lancaster oversees the VitalStim Therapy program that was started earlier this year and helps people with dysphagia learn how to swallow once again...

Skin cancer lurks behind sunshine (07/03/07) Even as early as 5:30 a.m., the sun is bright and shiny. Its golden light awakens the earth to the delightful adventures of summer days, especially for those working and playing outside. The sun is critical to life, acting as both an energy renewal process for plants and as a heating element of the planet. For living creatures, the sun is a vital part of the health cycle that keeps all things in balance...

'Check for ticks' a good song -- and a good suggestion (06/23/07) In Brad Paisley's country song he very politely sings, "I'd like to kiss you way back in the sticks, I'd like to walk you through a field of wild flowers," and then moves on to singing, "I'd like to check you for ticks." That would probably be an odd statement if it came from anyone besides a young, country star, however, with a few cases of Lyme disease popping up around the community checking for ticks may not seem like such a crazy idea...

Local woman among TennCare fraud suspects (06/21/07) A Shelbyville woman is facing TennCare drug fraud charges along with five others following a Coffee County investigation. Sharane Vandergriff, 35, of Shelbyville has been charged with three counts of TennCare fraud and three counts of attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud...

Get fit with the T-G (06/18/07) There is no doubt that most Americans are well blessed with food. According to the American Obesity Association, 30 percent of children in our school systems are considered overweight. Fifteen percent are obese. The average American has at least 10-15 pounds that they would like to lose yet, over 30 percent of those same people have admitted to eating something everyday that they regret...

Wound care center opens at BCMC (06/16/07) Focusing on the purpose of his chosen profession, Dr. Jeremy Gray, Physical Therapist, MSHA, has joined the Bedford County Medical Center (BCMC) as Director of Rehabilitation. In addition to gaining Gray, the hospital has also gained a Wound Care Clinic...

City picks Blue Cross (06/07/07) The Shelbyville City Council held a brief called meeting Tuesday to award the medical insurance plan for city employees, picking BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Last month, the council learned that HealthSpring, the current policy holder for the city, paid out $727,000 last year and only took in $559,000. City Manger Ed Craig said at the time that their proposed rate increase of 47 percent was "unacceptable."...

Health care providers get Safety Net grants (06/07/07) Four Bedford County health care providers have been awarded a total of more than $346,000 in Safety Net funding to provide services for uninsured Tennesseans. State officials say the funding is part of Gov. Phil Bredesen's efforts to strengthen the state's health care Safety Net and make primary care services more accessible to uninsured and underinsured Tennesseans...

Blood supply is critically low (06/07/07) The Tennessee Valley Region of the American Red Cross, along with other Red Cross blood programs across the nation, has a "critically low" blood supply, with less than one day's supply on hand, compared to the 72-hour supply which is considered a desired minimum level...

Construction begins on new hospital (05/31/07) It's a small first step, but a large beginning -- that is the thought of the day at Bedford County Medical Center, where news of machinery on the building site for the new hospital created a stir. In a memo sent by CEO Bill Macri to the staff, the news was announced, "For those of you who do not routinely travel up (U.S.) 231 North, I wanted to let you know that construction has begun in earnest...

Groundbreaking surgery at BCMC (05/31/07) In a groundbreaking surgery for Bedford County Medical Center (BCMC), Dr. William Russell performed a less invasive endovascular abdominal aneurysm replacement on William Chester last week, saving his life and reducing his recovery time extensively...

EMS seeks agreement with TennCare MCOs (05/15/07) Bedford County Emergency Medical Service (BCEMS) officials believe new county standards for non-emergency ambulance service passed earlier this month will force the insurance companies that manage TennCare to negotiate a contract with BCEMS and help eliminate long waits for non-emergency ambulance transfers...

Four named to Who's Who in Nursing Homes (05/14/07) Four local residents will be honored this week with inclusion into the Who's Who in Nursing Homes. James Caperton, Lillian Kitchens, Arthur Dacosta Correia and Mattie Stewart will be recognized for the achievements during their lifetime. The four will be presented certificates acknowledging their achievement during National Nursing Home Week, May 13-19. ...

BCMC site plans get city's nod (04/27/07) Site plans for the new Bedford County Medical Center were approved Thursday by the Shelbyville Municipal Planning Commission. The 60 bed, 100,002 square foot building is to be located on U.S. 231 North across from the Shelbyville Municipal Airport in the Airport Business Subdivision...

How to revive an injured plant (04/25/07) Kevin Williams of Williams' Nursery enlightened members and guests at the April edition of the Healthy Woman meeting on the best care for damaged plants. He also exhibited a variety of red knock-out roses, Kimberly and Boston ferns and wave petunia baskets...

Hospital breaks ground on $35M facility (04/19/07) Bedford County Medical Center broke ground Wednesday on a new $35 million hospital which officials say will serve as an economic development tool for the community. Construction on the hospital is expected to begin in two to four weeks and take 15-18 months to complete, with the hospital to open in the second half of 2008...

Home Health won't move (04/19/07) The new Bedford County Medical Center will apparently not include space for Bedford Home Health, members of the county commission's courthouse and county property learned Tuesday night. County Mayor Eugene Ray discussed details of the meeting with the Times-Gazette on Wednesday...

Thompson has lymphoma, in remission (04/11/07) WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican Fred Thompson, the actor-politician who is considering a bid for president, said Wednesday he has lymphoma, a form of cancer. In an interview with Fox News, the former Tennessee senator said he is in remission and the diagnosis shouldn't affect his life expectancy...

Orr addresses 'In The Bag' audience (04/04/07) "It's In The Bag," the third annual springtime fund-raiser sponsored by the Community Clinic of Shelbyville & Bedford County, took place with a festive flair Tuesday evening at Blue Ribbon Circle. In keeping with the event theme, handbags and related items were available for silent bidding as the evening began...

HealthSpring seeks contract with BCNH (03/26/07) Bedford County Nursing Home is one of three facilities in Tennessee approached by a company that hopes to succeed Medicare as the health care underwriter for residents at the home, officials have explained. Wayne Schumann, administrator of the county-owned medical residence on Union Street, advised the nursing home's trustees late last week that recently he'd been approached by a representative of HealthSpring...

Couple avoids jail time for TennCare fraud (03/26/07) A Shelbyville couple charged with TennCare fraud pleaded guilty on Friday when a jail sentence was converted to probation and restitution ordered. Barbara Jean and David Michael Westmoreland of Robinson Lane were sentenced on two counts of fraud each and placed on probation for two years and six months...

Show goes on following talks (03/24/07) Negotiations between officials of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Walking Horse Trainers' Association (WHTA) delayed the Friday night edition of the National Trainers' Show by one hour. The show was scheduled to begin at Calsonic Arena at 6:30 but a meeting between the two entities and the National Horse Show Commission (NHSC), which governs and enforces the show rules of the industry, kept spectators and contenders in a holding pattern that even Jet Blue could envy...

'It's In The Bag' supports clinic (03/23/07) Following two successful luncheon programs, the third annual fund-raiser for the Community Clinic of Shelbyville & Bedford County, "It's In The Bag," is making a change. Instead of a lunch, this year's event will be a dinner program. The silent auction, featuring a wide assortment of donated handbags or related items, and dinner program will be held Tuesday, April 3. The auction will begin at 5 p.m., followed with dinner at 6. Taking place again at Blue Ribbon Circle, tickets are $10 each...

Clinic meets local need with local support (03/23/07) Its astounding success can be attributed to two essential factors: ingenuous need and overwhelming support. The Community Clinic of Shelbyville and Bedford County, now in its fourth year providing free health services for working uninsured residents, served 1,390 patients in 2006...

Health Department needs space again (03/21/07) The State of Tennessee has required Bedford County Health Department, like other local health departments, to provide primary care services for the uninsured. The state provides funding for personnel and equipment, but not space, for this relatively new program. The state now wants to add two nurse-practitioners to the local department's staff, and that means that its offices on Dover Street -- which were expanded just a few years ago -- are once again bursting at the seams...

Local paramedic gets statewide honor (03/20/07) Jon Riddle of Bedford County Emergency Medical Services has been named the Paramedic of the Year by Tennessee Ambulance Service Association. The statewide peer-nominated award, which recognizes outstanding service and commitment to emergency medical services, was announced during TASA's mid-winter conference, Feb. 28 through March 2 in Gatlinburg...

Arriaga's attorney counters violation claim (03/20/07) Religious freedom and drug avoidance are issues mentioned by a Shelbyville woman and her lawyer while explaining their side of allegations that she violated the terms of her probation from a TennCare fraud conviction. Even the prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney General Mike Randles, has acknowledged that the probation violation hearing to be conducted for Nellie Arriaga, 29, won't include incontrovertible evidence -- typically another crime or a failed drug test...

Merger will create hospital giant (03/20/07) Community Health Systems, Inc., the Franklin-based health care chain that owns Bedford County Medical Center, announced Monday that it has agreed to acquire Triad Hospitals, Inc. of Plano, Texas, a merger which the company says will create the largest publicly-traded hospital company in the U.S...

Doctor, nurse separated from hospital in lawsuit (03/12/07) A doctor and a nurse were separated from Bedford County Medical Center as defendants in a medical malpractice case that's sought at least $2.5 million over the death of a man who sought treatment at the hospital's emergency room. The ruling came Thursday from Bedford County Circuit Court Judge Lee Russell in the case brought by the widow and children of Samuel Harrison Butcher III, who died on Sept. ...

Governor touts insurance plan for small business (03/09/07) Saying that it was "a long time coming," Gov. Phil Bredesen helped kick off a new, state-subsidized health insurance plan for low-income working adults Thursday. CoverTN calls for the state, employees and participating businesses to each pay one-third of the average monthly premium of $150...

'False statement' leads to probation for Schumann (03/07/07) Bedford County Nursing Home's administrator has been placed on probation for this year by the Tennessee Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators. Wayne Schumann made a "false statement" in 2003 when he applied for a state license to be a nursing home administrator by not disclosing that he'd pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while impaired in 1994, according to the board's order...

Healthy Woman program kicks off (02/22/07) A new Healthy Woman program, sponsored by Bedford County Medical Center, kicked-off Tuesday night at Calsonic Arena's Hall of Fame Club with a free health and vendor fair. The fair was followed with a dinner program at Blue Ribbon Circle with Dr. Suzanne Metzger as keynote speaker...

Fighting a brave battle (02/21/07) Mommy, my head hurts ... Kristy and Chad Napper never imagined the gravity of those words until a few days later when they were told that their beautiful little red-haired daughter had brain cancer. On Jan. 7, Caitlyn Napper celebrated her fifth birthday at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital where she had undergone surgery to remove the cancerous mass from the base of her neck...

Program helps pregnant Hispanic women (02/17/07) Help is on the way for Hispanic women who are expecting a child through a new program to be offered by The Center for Family Development. The Center is one of seven agencies to recently receive the March of Dimes Chapter Community Grant Award. It will be used to implement the Comenzando bien curriculum, described as a bilingual culturally appropriate, prenatal education curriculum for Hispanic women...

Women's health fair planned (01/31/07) A "Women's Expo and Health Fair," focusing on women's health issues, will be held Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Blue Ribbon Circle. A dinner program, featuring a guest speaker and special music, will immediately follow. Open to the public, this community event will kick off a new Bedford County Medical Center program called "Healthy Woman."...

BCNH urged to cut overime spending (01/27/07) Spending on overtime for employees at the Bedford County Nursing Home should be reduced, according to members of the home's board of trustees, and last week they received results of their directive. Apparently some employees have checked in 15 minutes before and after their scheduled work hours, thereby increasing their income with overtime pay, BCNH Director Wayne Schumann reported Thursday night...

Couple accused of defrauding TennCare (01/23/07) A Bedford County couple indicted Monday on TennCare fraud charges as a result of allegations that they used the government health insurance when they could have bought a commercial policy. Kelly Wilson, a Shelbyville-based attorney who's served Barbara J. and David Michael "Mike" Westmoreland, explained this morning, "I believe the allegations involve whether they were eligible for TennCare when they could have had private insurance had they simply applied for it...

New doctor's offices will adjoin new hospital (01/19/07) Doctors' offices are planned on U.S. 231 where a replacement hospital is to be built just west of Shelbyville's airport and Thursday night about a dozen physicians seemed favorably impressed. Some spoke about due diligence before investing in the $5.5 million project, but it's clear, doctors want offices close to what Community Health Systems will build to replace Bedford County Medical Center...

New device helps stroke victims at BCNH (01/18/07) Bedford County Nursing Home now has a device to help stroke victims regain their ability to swallow and the treatment was demonstrated Wednesday at the county-owned home on Union Street with the first resident to receive the therapy. Electrical stimulation was administered by speech pathologist Rebecca Lancaster from a battery-operated, hand-held Vital Stim machine that sent the current through wires to electrodes held in place on Charles "Nicky" Peacock's skin with custom tape placed on his neck.. ...

Committee endorses Wal-Mart site for EMS station (01/17/07) Bedford County Emergency Medical Services would like to locate its new headquarters and station on property which would be donated to the county by Wal-Mart Distribution Center, and the county commission's courthouse and county property committee added its endorsement to the proposal Tuesday night...

Hospital sign doesn't indicate new name (01/06/07) The new sign erected Thursday on U.S. 231 (Murfreesboro Highway) reads "Future home of Bedford Medical Center," but passers by shouldn't read too much into the name, said Bedford County Medical Center CEO William Macri on Friday. The omission of the word "county" is not a name change, just a matter of achieving a bold, visible layout for the sign...

Chair donated to nursing home (12/27/06) Bedford County Nursing Home has received a chair that can double as a stretcher if an emergency requiring evacuation occurs. It will help staffers move residents down stairs which are otherwise difficult to negotiate, but along the required evacuation route, according to BCNH Administrator Wayne Schumann...

Bedford ranks 53rd in health (12/13/06) The health of Bedford County's citizens ranks 53rd out of 95 counties in Tennessee, according to a report released Tuesday by a new state agency -- but since the Volunteer State ranks 47th in the U.S. in overall health, it's debatable whether any county in the state has much to crow about...

County hires law firm for Medicare case (12/13/06) Bedford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to hire specialized legal counsel to investigate claims of Medicare overpayment for which the county may owe nearly a million dollars. The claims related to money paid by Medicare to Bedford County Medical Center. Since that time, the county sold the hospital to Brentwood-based Community Health Systems (CHS) while retaining ownership of the nursing home...

$2M road plan requested (11/29/06) Bedford County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman requested a $2 million road resurfacing program during a presentation Tuesday night to Bedford County Board of Commissioners' budget and finance committee. It's common practice for the highway department to request such a large road program every few years; it allows the department to lock in prices for paving work and materials. ...

Dr. Aubrey Thomas Richards (11/28/06) A memorial service for Dr. Aubrey Thomas Richards, 71, of Shelbyville, who died Sunday evening at Bedford County Medical Center after a prolonged illness, will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Fairlane Church of Christ. His body was donated to Vanderbilt University Medical School...

Hospital staff consulted on BCMC designs (11/15/06) Architects, engineers and technicians are at Bedford County Medical Center this week consulting with department directors on how they're designing the planned $35 million replacement hospital to be built next year on U.S. 231 North. "It's really a collaborative effort to take practical day-to-day knowledge that department heads and employees have and put it together with architects and technicians to help us provide great services and meet patient needs," said Bill Macri, administrator of the hospital.. ...

Orr receives lung transplant (11/13/06) Shelbyville's David Orr received his long-awaited lung transplant over the weekend, according to posts by his wife Donna at the web site david-orr.livejournal.com. Orr, who was profiled by the Times-Gazette in October, suffered from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a disease in which progressive scarring in the lungs occurs from an unknown cause. ...

BCMC closes on new hospital site (11/02/06) Bedford County Medical Center has closed on the sale of its new site, on U.S. 231 across from Shelbyville Municipal Airport. The sale closed about two weeks ago, according to hospital CEO William Macri. "We're real excited about it," said Macri. He said a formal groundbreaking will be held in spring 2007 with the new $35 million facility, which is licensed for 60 beds, expected to open in late summer 2008. ...

Flu shots available at Health Department (10/28/06) Flu season is just around the corner and the Bedford County Health Department is ready to begin offering flu shots to area residents. No shortage of vaccine is expected this year and the health department says vaccine will not be restricted to certain groups...

Rabid skunk reported (10/19/06) A 4-year-old girl was bitten by a rabid skunk in Normandy last week in what officials say was the seventh confirmed case of rabies in Bedford County this year. P.J. Simmons of Normandy said her daughter was playing in the yard during the day lastThursday when the bite happened. Simmons' husband shot the skunk and Bedford County Health Department sent the head away for testing. Rabies was confirmed and the girl began treatments...

Changes will be considered to nursing home board (10/18/06) Bedford County Board of Commissioners' rules and legislative committee has asked the full commission to discuss whether or not the Bedford County Nursing Home board of directors should be changed to a nine-member system, with one member representing each commission district...

Flu season is on the way (10/18/06) Mother Nature's transformation from a retched rainy day to an Indian Summer's afternoon should be a big reminder that flu season has arrived and shots are available all across town. Some chain stores have had clinics from a contract service. Others are to repeat the service while a grocery is accepting appointments, and Bedford County Health Department officials hope to start taking appointments on Monday...

Clinic seeks EKG donation (10/16/06) Community Clinic of Shelbyville & Bedford County, a non-profit facility serving the uninsured working poor, is looking for a sponsor to donate money for an electrocardiograph (EKG) machine, according to board chair Valerie McConnell. The clinic operates with the help of volunteer medical personnel. A cardiologist has offered to begin seeing patients at the clinic, but in order to do so, the facility would need an EKG machine. That would cost about $3,500, said McConnell...

Orr keeps up hope as transplant nears (10/11/06) It was the spring of 2004, and David Orr was enjoying his favorite pastime. As he walked up to the first green at Blackberry Ridge Golf Club, he found himself unexpectedly out of breath. "I attributed it to being out of shape," said Orr. Or perhaps allergies...

EMS prepares for Unionville renovation (09/12/06) Bedford County Emergency Medical Services board approved a bid document Monday night for renovation of the old Unionville fire hall as an EMS station, as provided for in BCEMS's growth plan. The new Unionville station will, in effect, take the place of the station currently located on the grounds of the Clarence "Pete" Phillips Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy. ...

No bids received on health department (08/31/06) Bedford County Health Department official Amy Mitchell says the department needs major renovations to be able to provide newly-required state pre-natal and primary care programs. But, for the second time, Mitchell has failed to get even a single bid on the renovation project...

State inspects county nursing home (08/22/06) Bedford County Nursing Home was inspected by Tennessee Health Department officials Sunday, Monday and this morning, starting just two days after a managers meeting resolved issues raised at a meeting of nursing home trustees on Thursday. "They are asking about the events, the drinking (by unidentified people in the parking lot) and other things mentioned during the meeting, so they must have been called," Gay Shoffner, director of nursing, said Monday afternoon when asked about the Medicare/Medicaid Inspection Survey.. ...

New surgeon starts at BCMC (08/01/06) Dr. Navid Monajjem, a surgeon from Emporia, Va., where Community Health Systems (CHS) has a hospital there as it does here, is now practicing in Shelbyville. "That hospital and its community are going through growing pains, but they are smaller than Shelbyville," the new Bedford countian said...

City approves site plan for new hospital (07/28/06) Shelbyville's municipal planning commission gave the thumbs up to a site plan for the new Bedford County Medical Center [BCMC] Thursday but not before some questions were asked. Several commission members asked about what the impact of the noise from aircraft traffic might have on patients...

Arguments rage over nursing home (07/27/06) The battle among county commissioners and Bedford County Nursing Home chief executive Wayne Schumann heated up Tuesday night, with raised voices and accusations during the meeting of the commission's budget and finance committee. At one point, the committee deadlocked 2-2 on a proposal that the county take bids on selling the nursing home. Commissioner J.D. "Bo" Wilson threatened to seek an injunction against the county for mismanagement of the facility...

Committees disagree over old HMS annex (07/27/06) Two committees from Bedford County Board of Commissioners are taking different positions on whether the school system should be allowed to keep the former Harris Middle School annex. The commission's budget and finance committee had previously recommended that the school system be allowed to keep only the annex, which it would like to use for the alternative school program. ...

Rezoning sought for BCMC site (07/19/06) A rezoning request for the site of the new Bedford County Medical Center [BCMC] will be before the Shelbyville Municipal Planning Commission next week. The request is for Lot #5 of the Airport Business Park, described at Parcel 38.01 of Tax Map 50, a total of 25 acres located on Highway 231 North...

Blood supply is critically low (07/15/06) Middle Tennessee, including Bedford County, is headed for a blood shortage of emergency proportions if nothing changes. An adequate supply of blood at American Red Cross is a stock to last for five days. For instance, the local Red Cross needs to have a minimum of 1,695 pints of O-positive blood on its shelves to be prepared. Currently there are only 137 units. There should be 430 pints of O-negative but as of last report there were none...

Commissioners turn up heat on Schumann (07/13/06) Some county commissioners, during their meeting Tuesday night, increased their criticism of Bedford County Nursing Home director Wayne Schumann for hiring his wife Iris as a consultant, especially since Wayne Schumann indicated that Iris Schumann might stay on after her contract runs out at the end of this month...

EMS makes budget in both directions (07/11/06) Bedford County Emergency Medical Services made its projected revenue for the 2005-2006 fiscal year which ended June 30, with $47,000 to spare, and stayed within its budgeted expenses by $13,000, BCEMS Director Chad Graham reported Monday night to the ambulance service's board...

McGee enjoys Presidential banquet (07/01/06) Local pharmacist David McGee had a brush with greatness last week while on a lobbying trip to Washington, D.C. McGee is the board chair of the Southern Pharmacy Cooperative, a network of independent pharmacies which was formed to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices. ...

New hospital receives state approval (06/30/06) Bedford County Medical Center has received authorization from a state regulatory agency to proceed toward construction of a new hospital. The unanimous vote by the Health Services and Development Agency on Wednesday came within three days of the first anniversary of Bedford County's sale of its hospital to Community Health Systems...

Commission approves budget amendments (06/28/06) Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved last-minute budget amendments Tuesday night and heard a report that the county will receive about $900,000 more from the sale last year of Bedford County Medical Center. In a special called meeting, commissioners approved end-of-year amendments to the 2005-2006 budgets for a variety of county agencies. ...

Bids to be sought on Elm and Union properties (06/27/06) Bedford County Board of Commissioners' courthouse and property committee has recommended that the county take bids on the old Harris Middle School property and on four lots on Union Street, even though commissioners aren't in complete agreement about whether to sell either site...

Schumann defends hiring wife (06/16/06) Bedford County Nursing Home administrator Wayne Schumann, making his monthly report to Bedford County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night, defended his decision to hire his wife Iris as a contract employee, saying he consulted an attorney and that her $1,320 per week salary is in line with other consultants...

Renegar Drugs will sell to Walgreens (06/14/06) Renegar Drugs co-owner Barry Childers confirmed this week what had been rumored in the community for weeks -- the venerable drugstore is closing next month and selling its operations to Walgreens. Renegar Drugs will close July 11, according to current plans. Customer records will be automatically transferred over to the new Walgreens store on North Main Street on July 12...

'Heroes' collect for Red Cross (06/09/06) The Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross, which serves Rutherford and Bedford counties, has begun a new program in which designated "heroes" will raise funds for the organization in a variety of ways, from creative to mundane. The program is called "Heroes for the American Red Cross."...

Son gives kidney to father (06/01/06) Bob Pierce of El Bethel Road had been on the list for a new kidney for 2 1/2 years, patiently waiting for a call from the hospital and going to Tullahoma for dialysis three times a week. Things were getting worse, and the family was advised to look for a live donor. Humans require only one kidney, and so a donor with two healthy organs can donate one...

Crigler recuses self from Arriaga case (05/23/06) Bedford County Chancellor J.B. Cox has been asked by Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler to find a judge to preside over the state's case against a woman who's pleaded guilty of defrauding TennCare to get pain pills. Renee Nellie Arriaga, 28, was before Judge Crigler on April 17, having previously pleaded guilty of obtaining prescription drugs by misrepresentation last summer and fall as she used her cousin's TennCare card to obtain Lortabs from Eckerd's pharmacy...

County nursing home receives defibrillator (05/20/06) The terrifying event that led to an appreciation reception Thursday at Bedford County Nursing Home happened several years ago in the hospital at Murfreesboro. "My nurse started hollering 'Code Blue! Code Blue," Edward Dillingham, 79, explained calmly in the hallway between two nursing stations at the county-owned nursing home on Union Street. "The next thing I knew was hearing the nurse say, 'He's waking up.'"...

Local doctor wins malpractice case (04/27/06) A Bedford County jury concluded Wednesday night that there was no breach of the standard of care required for a Shelbyville woman's surgery during the summer of 2001. Dr. Donald Barnes of Shelbyville "was happy with the verdict," reported his defense attorney, Michael Castellarin of Nashville. The complaint against Dr. Barnes had sought a jury award of $750,000 for pain and suffering...

Nursing home turning a modest profit (04/22/06) Bedford County Nursing Home is generating more revenue than costs this spring, according to administrator, who reported to the facility's Board of Trustees late last week. Meanwhile, administrator Wayne Schumann said Thursday that he'd speak with the activity director about scheduling a program so that the residents, more than 100 of them, could hear what county-wide candidates have to say before election day May 2...

Second deadline looms for Medicare process (04/18/06) People eligible for Medicare Part D coverage who haven't signed up yet must do so by May 15, or else they will be penalized when they sign up for the program in the future. Enrollment for Medicare's prescription drug benefit, called "Part D," began last November. People who wanted their benefit to start Jan. 1 of this year had to register by Dec. 31 of last year...

Two health fairs to be held soon (04/15/06) Taking care of your health is always a major concern and there will be two chances coming up to consult with health care professionals. To provide enhanced opportunities for citizens, the Bedford County Health Council will be presenting the "All About Health Fair" at the Fairlane Church of Christ Fellowship Building on Saturday, April 29, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m...

Governor, U.S. health secretary urge preparation without panic (04/11/06) NASHVILLE -- U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt and Gov. Phil Bredesen said on Monday that it's important for the state to get ready for a bird flu pandemic, but at the same time to avoid misinformation. "We will be prepared," said Bredesen, "but we will not incite unnecessary alarm."....

Proposed upgrades would streamline organ donation (04/03/06) Improvements proposed for Tennessee's organ donor registry were revealed Thursday when Shelbyville Noon Rotary Club members were told the program is subject to votes by the state Legislature this spring. Perhaps best known for the line to sign on the back of a driver's license, the current organ donation program "doesn't work very well," said Boyd Fulton of Brentwood, the Rotary luncheon speaker...

Tracy supports Bredesen's insurance fix (03/28/06) Gov. Phil Bredesen's public health insurance proposal, emphasizing personal responsibility in a system for working people and small businesses, has found some support at Bedford County's delegation to the Legislature. "I think the overall reaction is positive because we all know the health care insurance system is broken," said state Sen. Jim Tracy, whose insurance agency office is on North Main Street. "I like the point of personal responsibility.....

Nursing home reduces staffing by attrition (03/27/06) Bedford County Nursing Home is reducing the number of staffers assigned to care for residents as it brings their number closer to what was budgeted last summer, according to the director of the county-owned facility. "We have been at 53 and we're at 50," BCNH Wayne Schumann said Friday about the number of nurses, aides and other caregivers for nursing home residents on duty during a 24-hour period. "We'll probably cut that to 47."...

EMS Challenge combines fun with skills training (03/27/06) Emergency medical personnel from all over Middle Tennessee will compete in a first-ever "combat challenge" -- a combination of fun events and serious skills competition -- April 22 at Henry Horton State Park in Chapel Hill. The event was conceived by Chad Graham of Bedford County Emergency Medical Services...

Davis to appear at 'It's In The Bag' (03/22/06) JoAnn Holland is convinced it was nothing short of divine intervention that led her to finding a speaker for this year's "It's In The Bag," a fund-raising event for the Community Clinic of Shelbyville and Bedford County. It was through a chance meeting in her doctor's office, and her approachable gift of gab, that Holland struck up a conversation with another patient, Cindy Owen of Owen Entertainment of Nashville...

Quest for an arthritis cure (03/09/06) BETHESDA, Md. -- In the middle of America's premier health research campus, a young woman with roots in Bedford County helps search for the cause and a better treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. It's one of several maladies stemming from a broader condition, auto immune disease, and even the most random visit to the Bedford County Senior Citizens Center finds a couple of people in pain who hope Rachel Robbins' work, or that of the team she's on finds success...

Clinic fund-raiser is 'in the bag' (03/07/06) Put your money on this year's fund-raising luncheon sponsored by the Community Clinic of Shelbyville-Bedford County reaching -- if not surpassing -- last year's event. It's in the bag. Last year Clinic board members came up with an innovative fund-raising idea -- a luncheon program and a silent auction with one specific theme -- handbags. ...

Hospital to spend on physician recruitment (03/03/06) Bedford County Medical Center expects to spend $2 million to $3 million on physician recruitment over the next few years, as it prepares for the opening of a new $35 million facility in summer 2008, according to CEO William Macri, who spoke Thursday to the Rotary Club of Shelbyville...

Local clinics complimented for taking on patients (03/02/06) Four medical clinics in Bedford County have been complimented by the state for increasing their patient load since receiving grants to treat uninsured adult patients because TennCare disenrolled thousands of people. Because the clinics appear to be meeting a goal they set with the state last year, they may become role-models for other clinics this spring as the state tries to help other clinics meet their agreements to treat more uninsured adults, a state spokeswoman said...

BCNH wants defibrillator (02/28/06) Bedford County Nursing Home directors have asked the director of the home to make inquiries about finding private donations to buy a defibrillator for the county-owned facility on Union Street. The request came during this month's meeting of the board when a financial report indicated greater spending than revenue during recent reporting periods, according to County Mayor Jimmy Woodson, chairman of the nursing home board...

Clinic seeks more patients (02/25/06) Having faced the prospect of losing some of a state grant, the Community Clinic of Shelbyville has a new volunteer and the prospect of two more which may allow its board to expand hours. However, Clinic Director Julie Moore says, "We're still trying to get volunteers. Physician assistants and doctors are what we need. We got one volunteer, Karen Jones, a physician assistant" in recent weeks...

Hospital to build across from airport (02/13/06) Bedford County Medical Center has begun the application process for building a new $35 million facility in the Airport Business Park across from Shelbyville Municipal Airport. Rumors had been circulating about the airport site for several weeks, and on Friday the hospital published a public notice ad in the Times-Gazette to begin the process of asking for a "certificate of need," the license from the state which is required to operate this type of health care facility. ...

Bredesen discusses health care for children (02/10/06) NASHVILLE -- Gov. Phil Bredesen discussed his proposed children's health care initiative during a speech to the state's newspaper executives Thursday night. Bredesen spoke at the Tennessee Press Association / University of Tennessee Press Institute and Winter Convention, which is taking place this week at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel. ...

CDC forms child obesity task force (02/06/06) Over nine million children and teens between the ages of 6 and 19 are overweight, a percentage the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports has tripled since 1980. In an effort to bring awareness and options for children of Bedford County and the other 12 counties in the South Central region of Tennessee, the Community Development Center has organized a childhood obesity task force...

Clinic deals with everyday challenges (01/24/06) As the Community Clinic of Shelbyville continues to look for volunteers so its services may be expanded, the United Way-funded agency's director has had plumbing duties as well as those of nurse and administrator. The clinic's water supply pipe broke and so Clinic Director Julie Moore has been shutting off the water supply to the building at 814 Union St. ...

Former T-G staffer helped launch clinic (01/24/06) The Times-Gazette can claim a special interest in the Community Clinic of Shelbyville. Former T-G reporter Ann Bullard was a moving force in the creation of the clinic at 814 Union St., according to clinic officials. Bullard "had a vision of supporting people who had health needs and were the working uninsured," recalls Sarah Hunt, secretary of the clinic's board of directors...

Clinic could lose some state funding (01/18/06) The Community Clinic of Shelbyville might lose some of its state grant money awarded to help pay for medical services available to people who've been bumped from TennCare, according clinic officials. Clinic Director Julie Moore, who doubles as a nurse when needed at the clinic on Union Street, explained that the $37,500 grant was awarded on a condition that at least 500 more patients were served during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006...

New web site offers health information (01/17/06) There is an enormous amount of health information available on the Internet these days and with that in mind, Bedford County Medical Center has launched Discovery Hospital this week on its Web site, www.bcmctn.com...

Medicare Part D gets low grades so far (01/17/06) New Year's Eve has come and gone, but for pharmacists struggling with Medicare Part D, the pain goes on and on. Confusion is predicted to continue for another couple of months according to pharmacists at two locally-owned drug stores where many Bedford County residents get their prescriptions filled...

Hospital offers new program for senior citizens (01/14/06) Bedford County Medical Center is hosting the grand opening of a new program for those 50 and older - Senior Circle. The ongoing program will be sponsored by BCMC and is available to those in that age bracket to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle by providing programs which promote continued learning, wellness and good health, along with a host of social activities...

First baby of New Year announced (01/05/06) Pete and Loth Souphom are the proud parents of the first baby of 2006 born at the Bedford County Medical Center. Baby Michael, the couple's first child, was born by emergency C-section at 1:55 a.m. on Jan. 2, weighing 6 pounds 5 ounces, with Dr. Lana Beavers performing the delivery...

Hospital sale named 2005's top story (12/31/05) The sale of Bedford County Medical Center has been voted the top local news story of 2005 by a poll of the Times-Gazette news staff; readers of the T-G web site, meanwhile, chose the activation of the local National Guard unit as the year's top story...

Uninsured gain health care options (12/28/05) Bedford County Health Department will expand its adult primary care services for uninsured residents of Bedford and surrounding counties in the South Central Region starting Tuesday, Jan. 4. These services are part of the state's Health Care Safety Net and will help those who have been disenrolled from TennCare as well as the other 580,000 Tennesseans who are without health insurance. ...

Nursing home honors volunteers (12/20/05) Dozens of people showed up for the Bedford County Nursing Home breakfast held Friday to honor volunteers who help make the residence a home for those who live there. The traditional breakfast of bacon, eggs, pastries, juice and coffee was prepared in the kitchen that has been serving both the nursing home owned by the county and the hospital that was recently sold by county commissioners to Community Health Systems, a stock company based in Williamson County...

Canon sentenced, still denies guilt (11/29/05) CHATTANOOGA -- Still denying that he devised a scheme to over bill TennCare and other health care programs, a Shelbyville man faces three years and five months in a federal prison as a result of a hearing in federal court Monday. "I never took a dime I didn't earn honestly," Robert Canon said yesterday evening after U.S. District Court Judge Allan Edgar resentenced him for his autumn 2003 conviction on 95 counts of health care fraud and ordered restitution of $3,183,710...

Medicare choices can overwhelm (11/23/05) Medicare, by its very nature, has until now been a relatively passive enterprise. Its participants, including people 65 and over or who have some types of disabilities, haven't had to make many choices to be eligible. But a new prescription drug benefit offers dozens of bewildering choices, and has some patients scratching their heads and looking for help...

A prescription for confusion (11/19/05) More than 100 people went to Shelbyville-Bedford County Senior Citizens Center on Thursday to learn about Medicare's prescription drug plan which started enrollment Tuesday. Many, perhaps most, left confused. "I do believe one-on-one explanations would be better," Sonia Miller, director of the center, said as another official explained Medicare Part D to an overflow crowd through a loudspeaker...

Flu shots to locals and out-of-towners alike (11/18/05) Bedford County Health Department has been inoculating people against the seasonal flu this week. At least two were Russians, who came here all the way ... from Tullahoma. As for the difference between the public health clinic here and how flu shots are administered in the former Soviet Union, Svetlana Kuznetsova says, "It would have been free in Russia, but it's easier here."...

More flu vaccine arrives at health department (11/15/05) More flu vaccine has been received by the Bedford County Health Department which is now accepting appointments for inoculations against the seasonal flu. "Flu shots at the health department are $23 for adults and $13.70 for children," said Pamela Browning, the pubic health nursing supervisor for the health department office at 140 Dover St. "Medicare Part B and TennCare are accepted" as payment for the shots...

New health plan causes confusion (11/15/05) Reorganization of America's government subsidized health insurance program hit a snag in Shelbyville recently as a business hired to administer Medicare was reported to police after the public housing authority warned of "fraudulent insurance" sales...

Flu shots arrive -- for just a few (10/26/05) The Bedford County Health Department will be administering flu shots Thursday at its offices on Dover Street, but there's currently only enough vaccine for about 50 inoculations for that many people who've got appointments. That's according to Pam Browning, the public health nursing supervisor here who says more vaccine has been ordered, but because it's unclear when it will arrive, health department officials can't start making appointments for the next round of inoculations...

Flu shots administered (10/17/05) A number of senior citizens in Bedford County were getting the jump on flu shots last week as one of the pharmacies in town had the vaccine and accepted appointments. Today, vaccinations start at the Bedford County Health Department by appointment for people in high risk groups such as those over age 65, children age 6-23 months and people with chronic lung disease, asthma, heart disease and other specified ailments...

Who goes first for flu shots? (10/17/05) Vaccinations against the seasonal flu are being administered first to the following people in accordance with advice from the Centers for Disease Control: * Age 65 or older * Chi