MHM  provided a Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinic, Monday, November 16, 2020, at the front entrance of the hospital from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Visitors to the clinic didn’t have to leave their vehicles to receive influenza vaccinations! Adults 19 years old and above were serviced. It was another great opportunity for “Doing Good in the Neighborhood”!

CEO, Jim Lambert, recognized Lee Harris, Assistant Administrator for Support Services and Clinical Services, for 30 years of service to Memorial Hospital and Manor. Mr. Lambert says, “He appreciates Lee Harris for his service to MHM as he brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and historical reference that helps improve our decision making.” Pelham Lee Harris, FACHE, has been a member of the management team at MHM since 1989. He is a native of North Carolina and grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Lee graduated from Emory University with a B.S. in Biology, He continued his education at Georgia State University earning both a Master of Business Administration in Finance as well as a Master of Health Administration degree. He currently holds the distinction of board certification in healthcare management. He is married to the former Julie Kyle of Atlanta, Georgia. They have three sons, Kyle, Chase, and Caleb.

Congratulations, Lee Harris! Your leadership is appreciated.

Memorial Hospital & Manor resumed  COVID-19 drive thru services  October 27, 2020. Drive thru services are provided Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2pm-3pm under the breeze way in front of the hospital until further notice. Patients must have a physician/provider order for testing. Drive through services will be utilized for symptomatic patients only. All non-symptomatic patients will be tested inside the hospital in the out-patient lab. Non-symptomatic patients will enter the hospital through the Emergency entrance for screening and then proceed to the front registration to be registered. Non-symptomatic patients will be swabbed in the out-patient laboratory located in the front of the hospital after the registration process is complete.

Preoperative (non-symptomatic) patients needing COVID-19 PCR screening will be collected in the outpatient collection area inside the hospital Monday through Friday from 7 am to 2 pm. Patients should enter through the Emergency room entrance for screening. Once screening is complete the patient will go directly to the out-patient lab (in the front of the hospital).

We are following the most current guidelines for testing provided by the Georgia Department of Public Health.    As guidelines change, we will update our policy.

Testing is also available through the local Health Department Region 8-2, 6 days a week.  No order is required and testing is free.  Appointments can be made by calling 229-352-6567.  The COVID collection schedule is also available online at http://southwestgeorgiapublichealth.org,

Bank OZK has made a $75,000.00 contribution to Memorial Hospital and Manor. MHM administration, physicians, and staff are appreciative for the partnership and support. Bank OZK  contributions to MHM since 2018 total $180,000.00. More than $1 million has been contributed through Georgia HEART, the statewide rural hospital organization expense tax credit program. Jim Lambert, Memorial Hospital and Manor’s CEO, stated, “The generous contribution of $75,000 form Bank OZK will go a long way in supporting our mission of providing high quality, cost effective healthcare, and promote wellness throughout our community. Bank OZK’s donations of $180,000.00 over the past three years has allowed us to make investments in people, technology, and programs for positive health outcomes in Bainbridge and our surrounding market.” Frank Posey, Bank OZK President – South Georgia/Alabama/South Carolina Division, said, “As a bank with strong roots to the community, we understand the importance of neighbors serving neighbors. Much like banking, personal connections and compassion in local healthcare makes all the difference. That’s why we are so pleased to support Memorial Hospital with the contribution that will allow for additional investments in technology, equipment, and facility enhancements.” Thank you, Bank OZK.

The past few months have been extremely challenging as we have all dealt with Covid-19 at home and at work.   Thank you all for your hard work and focus since the beginning of the outbreak. Your efforts have been key in helping contain the outbreak locally. Other parts of the state are seeing a growing number of cases and hospitalizations and our numbers are trending in that direction.

The best thing we can do to maintain our low rate of infection is to remain focused following our infection control policies regarding the appropriate wearing of PPE and masks at work.   I know you are tired of wearing masks but this the best way to protect each other from this disease. I recently heard someone say “You wear a mask to protect your fellow co-workers and they wear theirs to protect you”.   Let’s take care of each other and our patients by wearing masks as appropriate.

I want to encourage you to wear your mask out in the community when you’re in stores or restaurants and can’t social distance. We, as healthcare workers, can set an example for others in the community. The more people see others wearing a mask the more the more likely they are to wear one. None of us want to see a spike of Covid-19 cases in our community so it is incumbent on us to model behavior that can help get us all safely through this pandemic.

Please join me in wearing a mask and encouraging others to wear theirs so we can keep the community, ourselves and our families safe.

Thank you and stay safe!!!