Liz Grimes from Community Hospitals & Wellness Centers Pain Management Clinic, Bryan office, served as guest speaker for the June 9th noon luncheon meeting of the Montpelier Hospital Auxiliary held at the Thaman Building, Williams County Fairgrounds. The event was catered by the Williams County Fair Foundation. Decorations included butterflies and silk roses in pastel colors.
Liz is a nursing graduate of Bowling Green State University, who started with CHWC in 1997 at the rehabilitation center, and has taught classes at Northwest State Community College. She was one of two nurses on staff when the Pain Management Clinic was opened in October 2012 with 18 patients the first day. Since then the clinic has seen over 1000 patients in this area.
The clinic is currently staffed with Dr. John Buonocore, trained at Memorial Sloan Ketterine Cancer Center and certified in pain management and anesthesiology, Dr. Thomas Kindl, studied at the University of Michigan and certified in pain management, two nurse practitioners and administrative personnel.
Primary purpose of the clinic is to adjust and attempt to reduce long-term prescription pain medication and alleviate pain symptoms through injection procedures which may involve nerve blockers. Injections may last two to six months and may need to be repeated at different intervals depending on the needs of the patient. Patients are monitored on a regular basis regarding medications and effectiveness of the injections. Follow-up visits are scheduled on a monthly basis following injection procedures.
Acute and chronic pain is treated involving neck pain, migraines, arthritis pain in neck or lower back, back pain, sciatica, nerve damage, muscle spasms, shingles, pain after back or neck surgery, and persistent pain in stroke, cancer and burn patients. In some cases, nerve stimulation procedures are used.
Referrals are taken from the patient’s family doctor, who is kept informed by the pain management staff on the injection and therapy procedures. The clinic also refers some patients for chiropractic treatments, physical therapy, massage therapy, and swim therapy, depending on the patient’s condition.
The clinic is open two days a week for appointments and the nursing staff works week days Monday thru Friday. More information is available by calling 419-633-7343.
Following the luncheon and speaker, Auxiliary President Deanna Gipe called the regular meeting to order with roll call answered on “Where would you like to travel this summer?”. Jean Young gave the secretary’s report and Barb Dietsch, the treasurer’s report. Various committee chairmen gave progress reports.
On behalf of the hospital auxiliary gift shop, Vivian Brown, manager, presented a check for $1000 to the auxiliary from gift shop proceeds. President Deanna thanked her for the donation and also reported on proceeds from the semi-annual Book Fair held in April.
Patient favors for the summer months will be taken care of by the following volunteers: Doris Dilworth and Dorothy Briner, June; Ruth Smethurst and Ruth Cooley, July; Pauline Brillhart, August; and Carol Oberlin and Carol Erickson, September.
Barb Dietsch conducted a special candlelight ceremony in memory of hospital auxiliary members who passed away during the past year—Marian Klingler, Wilma Osburn, Gloria Miller and Louise Starr. A moment of silent prayer was observed for these volunteers.
Outgoing President Deanna Gipe served as installing officer for the installation of officers ceremony using special colored candles for each new officer, lighted from the central yellow candle representing the hospital auxiliary. Those installed for two-year terms for 2014-216 were Joyce Schelling, president, lavender; Armeda Sawmiller, vice president, blue; Constance Dunseth, secretary, pink; and Barb Dietsch, treasurer, green. Each gave her pledge of service to the auxiliary, followed by auxiliary members pledging their support.
Retiring officers were recognized for their service during the past two years. Deanna thanked all members, active and inactive, for their support of the auxiliary, which is very necessary in a united effort to accomplish the auxiliary’s goals—to bring comfort and hope to those in distress and to help the aged, ill and very young with generosity, discretion and gentleness. She illustrated unity comparing the officers to the fingers of the hand, which represents members of the entire auxiliary. Alone, fingers can do nothing, but united with the hand, we can offer continuing and caring service to others.
The hospital auxiliary regularly meets on the second Monday of each month October through June. September is designated as membership campaign month. The auxiliary executive board continues to meet the first Monday of each month all year. The next board meeting is scheduled Monday, July 7th at 10:30 a.m. in the hospital conference room.
Members of the auxiliary program committee consisting of Joyce Schelling, Armeda Sawmiller, Deanna Gipe and new member Gloria Poorman will meet Monday, June 30th at 1:30 p.m. to begin plans for the new year.
