| Hospital
Foundation offers summer tours
The St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation is sponsoring one hour tours of their facility on the last Mondays of July and August from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. The Circle of Life Tours are designed to acquaint new residents or regular patients with the hospital and clinic staff, their services, equipment and to see ‘behind the scenes.’ 
“There are new people continually moving to our area. We’d like them to get to know us before they need us,” said Jim May, SMHC Development Director. “Anyone is welcome as our guest. Many people who move here from an urban area are originally confused by the term, ‘clinic.’ In larger cities, clinics often refer to places where uninsured people can go with no appointment. In those same cities our set up is referred to as a ‘doctor’s office’. One of the things we explain on the tour is that our physicians take appointments and serve everyone within our area.” The tour name, Circle of Life, refers to the range of services available by the seven family practice physicians and two family nurse practitioners on staff at SMHC. The primary care services are available to pediatric patients through geriatric patients. According to May, the term describes how important it is to have medical care available locally. “Although our hospital is in the business of serving people it has much in common with other businesses. If you don’t use the business, you lose the business,” said May. “People can shop around for primary medical care services elsewhere and maybe even find it cheaper because larger cities usually have larger volumes, but everyone certainly wants the ER available when they or their family members need it. Everyone also wants medical care close to home for the elderly citizens in the area and for those who are just beginning their families.” The dates for the next tours are Monday, July 28th and Monday, August 25. Reservations are not necessary, but are encouraged by calling the SMHC Foundation office, 962-8052. Light refreshments will be served. |
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