•Hot Off The Press!
• National Healthcare Decisions Day
  Program at the Commission on Aging
  in Princeton, April 19, 9-11:30 a.m.
 •Senior Celebration
  Mercer Mall, May 15, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
•See all upcoming events here.

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GlenWood Park News

WV Therapy Services Transitioning to Odyssey Rehabilitation

 Bridgeport, WV, April 6, 2012 - West Virginia Therapy Services will be officially changing its name to Odyssey Rehabilitation as of May 7th, 2012.  There has been no change in ownership, corporate structure, to our employees or to our clients.  The change in branding strategy is only due to the success WVTS has had in the state of WV, and is being done in preparation for the company's efforts to become a larger regional provider of contract therapy services in WV and surrounding states.

 

West Virginia Therapy Services will be making its transition and first public appearance as Odyssey Rehabilitation on May 7th, 2012 at the WV Health Care Association Convention and Trade Show in Charleston, WV.  I am very excited to make this announcement, as the support and success that the company has had to this point is directly related to the LTC community of WV.  As Odyssey Rehabilitation, we will still be extremely dedicated to our current and future partners located in WV and will continue our strong support of the WV Health Care Association as a Champion Sponsor.

 

The word "odyssey" is described as a journey or series of adventures with a particular goal in mind, which I feel truly defines our daily work as a company. Odyssey Rehabilitation will move forward with emphasis on the standards and qualities defined by our history as West Virginia Therapy Services.  Patient Care, Customer Satisfaction, and Employee Advocacy will always remain the first and primary focus of Odyssey Rehabilitation.
 

West Virginia Therapy Services was established in 2006 as a contract therapy provider based out of Bridgeport, WV.  WVTS partners with LTC facilities to provide affordable, compassionate Physical, Occupational and Speech therapy services in addition to complete, comprehensive management for your rehab department.   During the past 6 years, WVTS has grown to service 15 facilities throughout WV and recently obtained agreements for 2 more, one of which has given the company its first footprint out of WV and into VA.  WVTS currently employs over 150 therapist and individuals throughout WV.

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Recognizing AMDA Members of Distinction, Dr. Charles J. Mirable

Dr. Charles J. Mirable, MD, CMD was nominated for the 2011 AMDA Medical Director of the Year Award which recognizes individuals whose vision, passion, leadership, knowledge and commitment succeed in taking patient/resident care to exceptional levels of quality, excellence and innovation.

Dr. Mirable helped develop a “house of pain schedule” to reduce and eliminate pain. He helped strengthen the admission-screening process by focusing on defining care plans and the facility’s ability to serve the resident’s needs. He reviews environmental issues with staff to address problems, patterns and solutions related to medical waste, laundry, food handling, and pest control.

He developed and worked on studies about warfarin, infection control, wound-care risk management, and other topics. He is loyal to his rural roots and serves as a Secret Santa and Toys-for-Tots proponent, offers exams to the Boy Scouts and their families, and makes house calls to patients throughout the county.

Daniel C. Dunmyer writes, “Charlie remains one of the five most influential and credible people I have worked with in my career.” Roger Topping describes Dr. Mirable as “caring, concerned, helpful, and knowledgeable.” Finally, “Dr. Mirable truly cares for his patients. He takes additional time when needed and always has a kind word for everyone,” Amy Boyd, PA-C.

Congratulations Dr. Mirable – GlenWood Park Retirement Village LOVES YOU!

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GlenWood Park Wins Facility of the Quarter

West Virginia Therapy's Corporate office would like to announce that GlenWood Park Retirement Village has won the Facility of the Quarter for the third quarter of 2010 with an Efficiency Rating of 86.15%.  Congratulations to Deseree McGlothlin and the team for their performance during Q3.  It truly takes a team effort to reach the top of this list.  We would also like to recognize Sally Brewer and the staff at Nella's.  They were awarded the most improved facility from Q2 to Q3 with an Efficiency Rating increase of 11.66%.  Each facility is rated on a number of different performance criteria ranging from Clinical Excellence to Customer Service Excellence during each quarter.

Why choose GlenWood Park Retirement Village for your therapy needs?
Because we make you feel at home!
 

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Nursing Home Guide / Consumer Reports

 

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A Consumer Reports investigation found that the state agencies responsible for overseeing nursing home care have often failed to correct problems. But consumers can increase their odds of choosing a good nursing home if they narrow their search to certain types. Findings:

• Not-for-profit nursing homes are more likely to provide good care than for-profits, based on our analysis of inspection surveys, staffing, and quality indicators.
    
• The same analysis shows that independently run homes are more likely to provide good care than chains.

 See more at:  http://www.consumerreports.org/health/doctors-hospitals/nursing-home-guide/0608_nursing-home-guide.htm

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Treva Ferris was raised near Salem, Virginia on about 150 acres filled with livestock, crops and orchards. "I still have a lot of farm girl in me," she says. "I'm glad I had that experience." Treva has an older sister who still lives in Roanoke County all these years later. Their parents went to Salem each week to sell fresh-churned butter, produce, eggs and other goods from the farm that sustained the family well. "We never went hungry," says Treva, who remembers catching trout in a stream that flowed by their house.

Her sister had to walk over several hills to reach a one-room schoolhouse, but by the time Treva enrolled, she could ride a bus. She graduated from Andrew Lewis High School and went to work in a hosiery mill. "I sewed the seam up the back of nylon hose." While she worked at the mill, she lived with a woman who would constantly tell Treva, "You are just like my brother." The two finally met and started dating when the brother came out of the service and stopped in to visit his sister. "We courted in a park near a lake," remembers Treva. They were married in 1946 and had two children just one year apart - a son who lives in Daleville, Virginia and a daughter who lives in Princeton. Treva gave birth to a third child, a son, eight years later who currently resides in Bluefield.

Treva's husband was a self-employed traveling salesman. The Ferris family started out in Bluefield and then moved to Princeton shortly after. Treva fondly recalls all of the children in the neighborhood playing together, including Becky Kidwell, GlenWood's admissions coordinator. "Becky came and played with my kids, and we took all the neighbor's kids to church at Johnston Chapel Baptist Church. It was unreal how many kids we fit in that car to go to church."

Her husband passed away while her youngest was still living at home. "When my husband died, I couldn't drive," says Treva. She soon learned and became a cook at Knob elementary school. "I always liked to cook." She also enjoyed sewing and made nearly all of her daughter's clothes when she was little. Treva had a garden and canned many of the vegetables. She and her children moved their church membership in 1990 to Westminister Presbyterian Church in Bluefield and currently attends services at GlenWood Park Retirement Village.

Treva moved to GlenWood in 2008, where she found not only Becky from her old neighborhood in Princeton but many of the residents were from  her neighborhood as well. Treva also found a new friend at GlenWood. One of GlenWood's cats, Sox, visits her regularly. After growing up among sheep, lambs, ducks, geese, cows and chickens, Treva naturally became an animal lover. Even after she left home and had a family of her own, they "always had cats and dogs." In addition to visits from her feline friend, Treva also enjoys GlenWood's activities. She is a member of the Spiritual Life Committee and rarely misses Sunday School and Thursday's worship service. "I usually go to play bingo and I like to sit on the front porch if the weather permits," says Treva, who has six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. "I'm perfectly happy here. I can't say anything against the place."

HAPPY 99TH BIRTHDAY BEULAH ANN BAILEY

She immunized over 10,000 local children, helped found the Mercer County Health Department, worked as a nurse for 50 years, and has seen the eradication of diseases such as diphtheria, polio, and small pox.

Beulah Ann Bailey moved to Mercer County in 1939 and since then has left an everlasting mark on Mercer County public health and the community at large.

"I've always loved keeping people well," Beulah Ann said. "It's been my privilege to work with the greatest doctors, teachers, professionals and ordinary citizens in West Virginia. It has greatly enriched my life."

See more of this story at:
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Kate Coil

LADY MARINE UNIFORM DONATED TO WAR MUSEUM

The Mercer County War Museum in the Memorial Building of downtown Princeton holds countless memories from historic wars and now Lady Marine Clarice "Claire" Lewerenz Mickelsen has shared her memories and uniform with the museum.

Mickelsen, a resident of GlenWood Park Retirement Village, donated her World War II Lady Marine uniform to the museum on Tuesday, July 6. The uniform Mickelsen wore as she served as a First Lieutenant in the Marines from 1943 until 1953 now hangs by the door, greeting all who enter the museum. Her uniform will accompany memorabilia from the Civil War, Spanish American War, Korean War, Vietnam War, both World Wars, and other memories of servicemen, women, and their families.

See more of this story at:
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Kate Coil