Employees Recognized
SALISBURY — Peninsula Regional Medical Center’s 2014 Employees of the Year, Debbie Grant, of the Endoscopy Department, middle left and Paulette Purnell, of Outpatient Chemotherapy, middle right, are congratulated by Dr. Peggy Naleppa, President/CEO and PRMC Chairman of the Board of Trustees William McCain at PRMC’s recent Employee Recognition Banquet with signs that will mark their designated parking locations at the Medical Center for the next year. Submitted Photos
Matthew Hofeldt
Medical Staff Addition
BERLIN – Atlantic General Hospital announced that Matthew Hofeldt, M.D., is now a member of the Atlantic General Health System medical staff.
Hofeldt, a general surgeon, has relocated his practice from Charleston, W.Va., where he also served as the section chair for general surgery and as the director of trauma at Thomas Memorial Hospital.
He joins Alae Zarif, M.D. and Sidney Barnes, M.D. in practice at AGHS Surgical Associates this month and will provide general surgical services at Atlantic General Hospital and wound care at Atlantic General’s award-winning Wound Care Center.
“We’re very pleased that Dr. Hofeldt has chosen to come to Atlantic General Hospital,” said James Brannon, vice president of professional services. “He brings additional expertise in laparoscopic surgical services as well as breast surgery specialization to our patients.”
In addition to general and breast surgeries, Hofeldt will be performing weight loss surgeries for patients of Atlantic Bariatric Center.
Hofeldt received his medical education at West Virginia University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in general surgery at West Virginia University Charleston Division/Charleston Area Medical Center. He is certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Hofeldt will begin seeing patients on May 22.
Bank Gets Charitable
BERLIN — Raymond M. Thompson, President and CEO of Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company in Berlin, has announced that Taylor Bank collected over 5,300 donated pairs of shoes for the Maryland Bankers Association’s Council of Professional Women in Banking and Finance 2014 Philanthropy Initiative Used Shoe Drive in partnership with Soles4Souls, Inc.
Taylor Bank was one of the 34 Maryland banks that participated in this year’s philanthropic initiative. A total of 63,270 shoes were donated, enabling a distribution of 500 pairs of new shoes to a Maryland non-profit organization.
Rick Tilghman
SALISBURY – Rick Tilghman, senior advisor with Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate in Salisbury, is expanding his focus from brokerage and leasing to property management. He has accepted the position of Director of Business Development and Property Manager and will continue to serve general brokerage clients.
Tilghman has been with SVN-Miller since 2007 and as a senior advisor has specialized in the sale and leasing of retail, medical and office properties in Maryland and Delaware. Within his first two years in the commercial real estate business he earned the prestigious Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation. In his role as senior advisor, he has worked directly with the property management division for years through assisting tenants and property owners in lease transactions.
“I am very excited to expand my services and take on this additional role,” Tilghman said. “I look forward to promoting the benefits of hiring a property management company to property owners on the Delmarva Peninsula and beyond.”
Electronic Portal Launched
BERLIN – Patients can now go online to see test results and review their doctors’ instructions after their stay at Atlantic General Hospital. It is part of a years-long effort that started with building an electronic medical record and has continued with the creation of a digital connection with patients to share valuable health information.
It’s called the PERKS Portal. PERKS, which stands for Patient Electronic Record Keeping Service, is the electronic medical record Atlantic General launched in 2013. The goal of the PERKS Portal is to empower individuals to make better decisions and take appropriate action about their health and healthcare through the convenience of a user-friendly web site that puts the information they need right at their fingertips.
“Knowing your medical instructions is key to getting well as soon as possible,” said Colleen Wareing, vice president of patient care at Atlantic General Hospital. “If a patient loses the discharge instructions they were given when they left the hospital, it takes time and effort to request another copy. Often that time and effort become a barrier to securing the information people need to take care of themselves properly. A major component of the PERKS Portal is providing quick, easy access, in addition to tools that improve patient understanding of their condition.”
Any individual discharged from an inpatient or observation unit at Atlantic General now receives an email invitation to register for their PERKS Portal account to view their discharge instructions, educational materials and results for lab and imaging tests.
Medical records captured since Jan. 1, 2014 are available within the PERKS Portal. This is true as well for patients of Atlantic General Health System doctors, who started sending email invitations to register for the PERKS Portal on May 1.
In addition to the ability to view lab and imaging test results, health system patients can request prescription refills, view vaccination records, request appointments, and send messages to their doctor’s office – all with a few clicks of a button. Medical apps that allow you to monitor blood pressure or blood glucose levels and perform other health management tasks are also available.
Questions regarding the portal can be directed to the PERKS Portal Helpdesk at 410-641-9977 or [email protected].
New Advisor Announced
OCEAN CITY — Insurance Management Group, Inc. has announced that Valerie Gartland Krauss has joined the Ocean City-based firm as an insurance advisor for the Personal Lines department.
Her insurance history spans 10 years, working predominantly within the coastal guidelines of Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and Florida.
Krauss is a graduate of Salisbury University. She is active in the community as co-founder of the annual N.O.E.L Community Dinner hosted by St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church and a supporter of Diakonia Shelter in West Ocean City. Valerie received the 2011 Ocean City Chamber of Commerce “Ambassador of the Year” for her efforts.
Optical Boutique Opens
WEST OCEAN CITY — An Optical Galleria, an award winning optical boutique that dispenses premium lenses and offers a unique selection of quality eyewear, will celebrate the grand opening of its second location on Friday, May 16 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, May 17, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Teal Marsh Plaza in West Ocean City.
Five-Star Recognition
BETHANY BEACH – Michael Loftus, owner of Loftus Wealth Strategies in Bethany Beach, Del., has recently been named a Five Star Wealth Manager for 2014.
Five Star Professional is a company that researches and recognizes outstanding service professionals. Loftus Wealth Strategies is preparing to celebrate its five-year anniversary in the area this spring.
“This award is a wonderful nod to my professional work, and happens to coincide with our five-year anniversary. I take great pride in caring for my clients, and so this recognition is terrific.” said Loftus.
Pharmacist Recognized
BERLIN — Thirteen outstanding health workers were recently honored in Washington, D.C., for their extraordinary service in healthcare. The REAL Awards presentation, which took place on Capitol Hill, was emceed by Cokie Roberts, Political Commentator for ABC News.
Jane-hwa Huang, a clinical oncology pharmacist at Atlantic General Hospital’s Outpatient Infusion Center, was recognized with 12 others, including a certified nursing assistant who cares for autistic children, an occupational therapist who works mainly with children after they undergo dramatic surgeries and a midwife who works every day to reduce the infant mortality amongst African Americans in Washington, DC.
Huang was honored for her commitment to her field and the compassion she brings to her patients each day.
“I love my work and that what I do helps to save lives. Receiving recognition for my professional accomplishments and for the compassion I bestow upon my patients is an honor and one that I hope inspires others to join this profession,” said Huang.
These recipients join 16 global honorees from 12 countries that are being honored in their home towns over the next several weeks.
Service Awarded
SALISBURY — Dr. Peggy Naleppa, President/CEO of Peninsula Regional Medical Center, honored employees with 30 or more years of service to the medical center at an employee recognition banquet. Above left, those recognized from Worcester County were Catherine Scarborough of Pocomoke City, 40 years; Pat Sklar of Bishopville, 40 years, Debbie Doukas of Berlin, 35 years and Donna Stafford-Benvenuto of Ocean City, 30 years. Those recognized from Sussex County were Sheryl Lewis of Frankford, 40 years; Kathy Twilley of Delmar, 40 years; Maralyn Adkins of Delmar, 40 years; Beth Lewis of Laurel, 40 years; Sandra Cohee of Millsboro, 35 years; Valerie Whalen of Millsboro, 30 years and Dave Stroud of Laurel, 30 years. Above right, from left, are Twilley, Adkins, Stroud, Sheryl Lewis and Beth Lewis. Not pictured were Cohee and Whalen. Submitted Photos