Porter Hospital

(From our most recent 2007 Annual Report to the Community)

2007 Report to Our Community
James L. Daily, President
Porter Medical Center, Inc.

PORTER HOSPITAL

Annual reports often take as their theme words that begin with the letter "C"."challenge and change" seem to be the two most popular choices.

My choice, however, is "community".. a simple, but powerful, word that represents our very reason for existing a an organization, and a concept that is at the foundation of our mission. With all of the progress made by Porter Medical Center during the past year, including the dedication of our new North Wing, it would be easy to focus on "bricks and mortar" and include many photographs of our magnificent  new Birthing Center and Surgical Care Center. However, in reviewing the photographs we selected for this annual report, I was struck by one common element-people. Porter Medical Center defines our "community" as our patients and our supporters.but also our staff, our physicians, board members and other volunteers..each of us plays an important role in the supportive community that not only benefits from our progress, but which creates and nurtures it.

It is commonly known that health care is a "people business"-both from the perspective of those delivering the care and those receiving it. I am proud and gratified to know that these people who come to work each day at Porter Medical Center represent the highest caliber of talented and compassionate professionals-and that those who serve our organization as volunteers and board members take their roles and responsibilities very seriously. It is a privilege to work with them all. I hope you enjoy this annual report.

On November 10, 2006 Porter Hospital formally dedicated its new Birthing Center and Surgical Care Center in a ceremony attended by community supporters, board members, physicians and employees. It was an extraordinary event, punctuating an incredible week of smaller gatherings and tours.Within days, the new clinical facilities were open and ready for use by patients and providers - and the response from both has been overwhelmingly positive.

Almost immediately following the opening of the North Wing, renovations began in the former maternity department to create a larger, more appropriate space for our inpatient pharmacy - the final phase of this long and ambitious project. The "crowning jewel" of the project was formally dedicated in mid-September of 2007 - the Betty Jo Calhoun Memorial Garden. A quiet and beautiful place for patients, visitors and staff alike, this peaceful garden is located just outside of the waiting area of the North Wing, honoring our long-time friend and devoted volunteer.

Although the completion, dedication and opening of these major new facilities represent the highlights of the past fiscal year, other important developments (such as the introduction of a new high-tech medication delivery system for our patients) also occurred during the past twelve months.

A significant new service, introduced last year, is the new "Tapestry Midwifery" practice located in Vergennes. Certified nursemidwife, Martha Redpath, an experienced and caring professional, began seeing patients in the spring of 2007 as Porter "re-introduced" a nursemidwifery option for interested area women. During the first six months of having "Tapestry Midwifery" in the Porter family of practices, it has become clear that there is a demand for this service and that families are pleased to have this choice available to them.

Throughout this annual report you will see photographs, and other materials that will give you a glimpse into other activities and accomplishments of the past year. I hope you will agree that Porter Hospital has never been in a better or stronger position to provide outstanding health care services to the people of our region thanks, in part, to the new facilities, services and equipment mentioned above-but more important-thanks to our physicians, nurses, clinical and nonclinical employees who make Porter Hospital a caring and compassionate organization.

Kent Wright, IV, President of the Addison County Eagles,is flanked by PMC staff members Charlie Liberty, RN, Ron Hallman and Porter President James L. Daily, as he presents a donation of $7,000 for new emergency department equipment.