Bank Program Honored

Bank Program Honored
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BERLIN — Raymond M. Thompson, President and CEO of Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company in Berlin, MD has announced that the bank was recently recognized by the Maryland Banker’s Association for its financial education initiatives for school age children.  The bank received second place in the category of banks with less than $1 billion in assets, in a statewide competition.

“We are pleased that our efforts to provide meaningful financial education in our local schools has been recognized at such a high level,” Thompson said. “Providing early financial literacy to the young students of our communities only strengthens our communities over the long term.”

Thompson recognized Margaret Mudron, Assistant Vice President of Taylor Bank, who coordinates the curriculum and school visitations with other Taylor Bank volunteers. “Ms. Mudron and her team of bank employees are to be commended for their volunteer work in this area. Without their commitment, this recognition would not have been possible.”

Parambi Joins PRMC Staff

SALISBURY — Joan A. Parambi, M.D., was recently granted active staff membership with clinical and admitting privileges in the Department of Medicine, specializing in Endocrinology, at Peninsula Regional Medical Center and with the Peninsula Regional Medical Group.

Certification Earned

BERLIN — Mary Bradford, realtor with Coldwell Banker of Ocean Pines, is one of the first realtors in area to earn the new BPOR (broker’s price opinion resource) certification.

The new certification course was offered locally through the Coastal Association of Realtors. Bradford recently completed the one-day course and earned 100% on the exam. The course is intended to give realtors the knowledge and skills they need to reduce risk and help them create professional and accurate BPOs. The certification explores the multiple uses of BPOs, how they can and cannot be used and how to filter and select comparables to create expert and precise BPOs. The course also helps members identify and use effective tools for BPOs.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) president, Ron Phipps, “The BPO Resource certification not only adds value to the services provided by realtors, but also it helps practitioners grow their business.”

AGH Pharmacy Expands

BERLIN — On Oct. 17, Atlantic General Hospital’s pharmacy began offering a multitude of enhanced services to patients and the nurses and physicians who care for them during a stay in the hospital.

This includes expanding hours of operation for the pharmacy on weekdays by six hours, to run from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.  

“Many of our patients are admitted after 5 p.m., and they have medication needs that include complex therapies as a result of the treatment ordered,” said James McGinnis, director of pharmacy at Atlantic General. “We expanded our hours so our pharmacy staff is here to help clarify these therapies from a pharmacy perspective and serve as patient advocates.”

Upon admission and the request from a physician, patients will be interviewed by staff pharmacists to create a comprehensive and more accurate inventory of current medications, which can then be referenced at every point of the medication reconciliation process during shift change or transfer to another unit – thus improving patient safety by decreasing the risk of medication error.

Patients receiving multiple medications will also receive in-depth education from the pharmacy staff regarding the timing, dosage and purpose of the medications prior to discharge to ensure that these individuals properly comply with physician orders and remain on the road to recovery.

“Achieving a more patient-centered approach that allows the patient to be an active participant in their healthcare vastly improves the success of treatments and builds trust in the healthcare organization, which is so important to the healing process,” said McGinnis.

Hospital pharmacies across the country are moving toward the patient-centered model of care and away from strictly mixing and distributing medications; Atlantic General Hospital is at the forefront of this movement on the Shore.

These changes are being implemented during National Hospital & Health-System Pharmacy Week, which brings awareness to the critical role that pharmacists play in preventing medication errors.

Dividend Announced

BERLIN — Calvin B. Taylor Bankshares, Inc. has announced that its Board of Directors has declared an annual cash dividend of $0.92 per share. This dividend is payable on Dec. 30, 2011 to shareholders of record as of the close of business Nov. 10.

Hospital Ranked Among Best

SALISBURY — A study released today by HealthGrades, the nation’s most trusted, independent source of physician information and hospital quality outcomes, named Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC) in Salisbury, among the Best 100 Hospitals in the Nation for: Cardiac Care, Stoke Care, Pulmonary Care, Gastrointestinal Care, Critical Care, and General Surgery. Only four hospitals across the nation ranked among the 100 Best in more specialties; none located in the Mid-Atlantic region.

HealthGrades also ranked PRMC #1 in Maryland for Cardiology Services, Treatment of Stroke and Vascular Surgery (for the second consecutive year).

Additionally, the HealthGrades study again found Peninsula Regional a regional leader in clinical excellence, ranking as the Best on the Delmarva Peninsula* for Overall Cardiac Services, Cardiology, Stroke Care, Neurosciences, Overall Pulmonary Care, Vascular Surgery, Overall GI Care, and Critical Care for 2012.

According to the HealthGrades report, patients on the Delmarva Peninsula are increasingly seeking hospital quality information online, with approximately 173,000 patients visiting HealthGrades.com in the past year. And for good reason: Choosing a hospital can be a life or death decision. HealthGrades report found that patients treated at 5-star rated hospitals experience a 73% lower risk of mortality and a 63% lower risk of complications.

“Quality and safety remain at the heart of everything we do as an organization, and collectively we hold each other accountable. We’re not afraid to have courageous conversations to remind us all that first and foremost there is a patient, and we must always be focused on what we can do to make the overall healthcare experience exceptional,” said Peggy Naleppa, MS, MBA, PhD, FACHE and President/CEO. “Peninsula Regional’s greatest asset is our team of employees, volunteers and physicians. Our HealthGrades clinical successes are a direct result of their dedication and devotion to PRMC’s ‘A Culture of Always,’ which is striving to make sure we do it right for every patient, every person, every time.”