Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital was recently awarded Southern Regional Hospital of the Year at the National Mended Hearts Conference in Texas. The Southwest Georgia Chapter #165, which partners solely with Phoebe, also took home top awards, including Regional Chapter of the Year and the prestigious President’s Cup - National Chapter of the Year.
 
“It was an honor to present at the national conference as well as accept the Hospital of the Year award on the behalf of Phoebe. We have a long history of working with our Mended Hearts chapter to provide peer-to-peer support to our heart patients. To see our chapter’s hard work recognized for Regional and National Chapter of the Year spoke to the importance of our partnership,” said Judy Himes, Volunteer Services Coordinator, Phoebe.
 
Phoebe was nominated for Regional Hospital of the Year because of the hospital’s continuous support of Mended Hearts over the years. In early 2017, the Southwest Georgia chapter of Mended Hearts and Phoebe worked together to evaluate and revise organizational procedures to positively impact heart patients. With the implementation of the new procedures and the support Phoebe provided the chapter, patient and family visits by chapter-accredited visitors increased by more than 1,500%. That included 6,000 in-room hospital visits and nearly 4,000 mailings or phone calls to patients, caregivers and families.
 
“Our volunteers are former heart patients sitting down with current heart patients. We are fortunate to have these dedicated volunteers and Phoebe staff who have worked tirelessly this past year to provide heart patients in the region a strong support system,” added Al Voss, Assistant Regional Director and Southwest Georgia Chapter President, Mended Hearts.
 
For over 30 years, Phoebe and Mended Hearts have partnered to provide quality services to cardiac patients and their families. Phoebe cardiologists and staff support patients not just within the walls of the hospital but in the community – speaking at chapter meetings and events.
 
Over the last year, the Southwest Georgia Chapter made many improvements that demonstrated a commitment to Phoebe’s mission and Mended Hearts – providing a positive patient experience and access to resources. The relationship between Phoebe and the chapter is serving as a model for other chapters in the region and nationally.
 
“This award is an incredible honor and testament to our ongoing commitment to provide the region’s best cardiac care and support for our patients,” shared Tom Sullivan, Sr. Vice President/Operations. “We want to thank Mended Hearts members who make our program even stronger. These folks are real-life heroes who draw upon their personal heart care experiences to further educate our patients throughout the entire recovery process.”
 
Mended Hearts is the largest heart patient support network in the world, with 20,000 members and 300 chapters. Recognized for their role in facilitating a positive patient-care experience, Mended Hearts partners with hospitals and cardiac rehab clinics to offer support through visiting programs, group meetings and educational forums. Mended Hearts inspires hope and improves quality of life for heart patients and their families through ongoing peer-to-peer support.
 
The Southern Region covers Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana and Puerto Rico.