Kohl’s Grant Supports The Medical Center's Newborn Care & Safety Program

Kohl’s Cares® has once again awarded Commonwealth Health Foundation a grant to enable The Medical Center to reach expectant parents with vital obstetrics education classes. This year's grant totaling $31,308 will be used for The Medical Center's Newborn Care and Safety Class which teaches expectant parents essential baby care skills.

"The Newborn Care and Safety Class is one of our most attended classes because expectant parents, as well as new parents, are very eager to learn how to care for their newborn," said Cindy Gilliam, OB Educator for The Medical Center. "Parents want to feel confident and comfortable in caring for their newborn, and this class teaches them the basic skills they need to know."

The Newborn Care and Safety Class is a free, hands-on class where participants use baby dolls to practice swaddling and holding a newborn, diapering and giving the baby a bath. A variety of safety issues are addressed, and a CPR demonstration shows parents what to do in an emergency.

As a result of Kohl's support, The Medical Center expanded its class offerings by adding a second location for the class. The class is held at Fairview Community Health Center Annex in addition to The Medical Center Health & Wellness Center. Last year 34 classes were held with 665 total participants, and 34 classes are already scheduled for 2013.

The Kohl's grant also funds the purchase of safety tote bags for expectant parents who take part in the Newborn Care and Safety class. The tote bags, which include items such as "The Joy of Parenthood" publication on baby care and safety, DNA identification kit, bath water temperature tester, infant CPR refrigerator magnet, and baby safety gift set, are provided to parents at no cost. A baby monitor is also given out in a drawing at every class.

The Medical Center is the local Kohl's Cares® beneficiary. Since 2006, Kohl's has donated $164,509 to The Medical Center to support its health and wellness programs including construction of two community walking trails at local elementary schools.

Kohl's commitment to Commonwealth Health Foundation and The Medical Center is made possible through the Kohl's Cares® philanthropic initiative. Kohl's Cares® includes a merchandise program featuring $5 books and plush toys where 100% of net profits benefit health and educational opportunities for children nationwide. Since 2000 when Kohl's Cares® was introduced, Kohl's has raised more than $208 million through its merchandise program. In addition to its hospital partnerships, Kohl's Cares includes Kohl's Cares® scholarship program, Kohl's Associates in Action program, and fundraising cards for local schools and nonprofit youth organizations.

About Kohl’s Department Stores

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. With a commitment to environmental leadership, Kohl's operates 1,146 stores in 49 states. In support of the communities it serves, Kohl's has raised more than $208 million for children's initiatives nationwide through its Kohl's Cares® cause merchandise program, which operates under Kohl's Cares, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.Kohls.com or join the discussion on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/kohls or Twitter http://twitter.com/Kohls.

About Commonwealth Health Foundation

Commonwealth Health Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC). Commonwealth Health Foundation helps build relationships and partnerships across Southcentral Kentucky that will inspire charitable giving by individuals, foundations, corporations and organizations. These gifts help support the mission of CHC to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities it serves. For more information about the Foundation, please visit www.commonwealthhealthfoundation.org or call 270-796-5543.

About The Medical Center

The Medical Center at Bowling Green is the flagship hospital for Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC). Located in Bowling Green, Ky., The Medical Center is a 337-bed, full service, not-for-profit hospital specializing in heart, cancer care, obstetrics and neonatology, and orthopaedic services. With a mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities it serves, CHC and its entities including The Medical Center at Bowling Green contributed $64.5 million in community benefit in fiscal year 2012. The Medical Center treats patients regardless of their ability to pay and annually provides millions in community benefit through charity care for the uninsured and shortfalls in governmental reimbursements (Medicare and Medicaid). To learn more, visit www.TheMedicalCenter.org.

Barren River Regional Cancer Center Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

Craig Tyree, M.D. and the staff at the Barren River Regional Cancer Center in Glasgow are celebrating 10 years of delivering compassionate and technically advanced radiation therapy to cancer patients in Barren and surrounding counties. Since opening in 2002, Barren River Regional Cancer Center has provided radiation treatment services to over 2,000 patients.

“For the past decade, my staff and I have had the opportunity to bring the most advanced treatments in cancer care to this area,” said Craig Tyree, M.D., Radiation Oncologist and Medical Director for Barren River Regional Cancer Center. “We are proud to provide this region with advanced technology and compassionate care, and we are looking forward to many more years of working with the outstanding people in this community.”

Barren River Regional Cancer Center originally was established by The Medical Center in late 2002. In early 2003, The Medical Center entered into a joint venture with TJ Samson Community Hospital to operate the Center. Dr. Tyree, a board certified radiation oncologist, has served as Medical Director since opening. In addition to Dr. Tyree, the Center is staffed by radiation therapists, a medical physicist, dosimetrists, and oncology nurses. Barren River Regional Cancer Center is accredited by The Joint Commission and is recognized by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.

In 2009 Barren River Regional Cancer Center completed an approximate $5 million expansion. Part of the 4,000 square feet that was added to the existing structure was a vault for a new Trilogy™ linear accelerator. The Trilogy combines image-guidance technology to focus on a tumor with a very precise radiation beam. With advanced technologies, the Center offers stereotactic radiosurgery, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic body radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), 3-D conformal radiotherapy, and palliative radiation therapy.

To celebrate the 10 year anniversary, Dr. Tyree and the staff at the Barren River Regional Cancer Center will host an open house on Wednesday, January 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. The Center is located at 103 Trista Lane in Glasgow. For more information, call (270) 651-2478.

Commonwealth Health Corporation Earns Accreditation with Distinction from American Nurses Credentialing Center

Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC), parent company of The Medical Center, has achieved Accreditation with Distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association. This highest recognition awarded by the ANCC Accreditation Program is granted to CHC for four years, February 2013 through March 2017.

ANCC Accreditation distinguishes organizations that demonstrate quality and excellence in the curriculum design and delivery of continuing nursing education (CNE). Accredited organizations, like CHC, meet comprehensive, evidence-based criteria to ensure CNE activities are effectively planned, implemented and evaluated.

Only organizations that demonstrate zero deficiencies requiring a progress report achieve Accreditation with Distinction. As of September 2012, less than 10% of all ANCC-accredited organizations achieve this honor.

“We are proud to be recognized by ANCC for our commitment to continuous improvement and the highest quality continuing education for nurses,” said Connie Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of CHC. “Nurses throughout Southcentral Kentucky have access to the highest caliber of education to meet their certification or licensure requirements, which in turn contributes to improved healthcare outcomes for patients in this region.”

ANCC Accreditation is a voluntary, peer review process intended to strengthen and sustain the quality and integrity of continuing nursing education, making it worthy of public confidence. Accrediting organizations, like ANCC, assess providers of continuing nursing education to ensure they meet rigorous global standards established by ANCC.