Erlanger Community

Chattanooga,Tenn.– Children’s Hospital at Erlanger announced this year’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Tennessee Champion, Andrew Ellis, during a special event held on May 3, at Wilson Air Center located at the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport. 

 “This is the second year in a row we have had the pleasure of announcing one of our patients will represent Tennessee for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” said Betsy Taylor, President of Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Nine-year-old Andrew Ellis came to Children’s Hospital by LIFEFORCE Air Medical the night of April 27, 2011.  A tornado ripped through his grandmother’s home in Apison, Tenn., killing four of his family members and dragging him through a field where rescuers later found him.  His mother credits the bravery that was displayed by rescuers and the lifesaving skills provided by medical personnel for saving his life that night. 

“April 27^th, 2011, was a life changing event that will always be bittersweet,” said Wendy Ellis, Andrew’s mother.  “In one breath, I received the news that not only had I lost four of my closest family members, including Andrew’s brother Adam, but the lone survivor, my son Andrew, was being airlifted to Children’s Hospital at Erlanger with life threatening injuries.  Despite my emotions being in a whirlwind at the time, there was a sense of security in my heart just knowing the care he would receive once he arrived at the hospital.”

 Andrew was named a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion for his miraculous survival and his determination to live life to the fullest and will represent all pediatric patients in children’s hospitals across the state. 

“Today, as I see Andrew and his miraculous recovery he has made throughout this past year, I know this could not be possible without the services of the Children’s Miracle Network,” added Ms. Ellis.  “I want to express my sincerest thanks to all!”

In the fall, Andrew will serve as an ambassador and visit Washington, D.C.While in Washington, he, along with Champions from other states, will visit The White House and Capitol Hill. He will then take part in Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ annual celebration event in Orlando, Fla.

Delta Airlines, this year’s Champions program title sponsor, has been a proud supporter of CMN Hospitals since 1998.  Other 2012 partners include Ace Hardware andChico’s FAS.

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Chattanooga,Tenn.– It was a bittersweet moment when Erlanger staff said goodbye to 77-year-old Grace Coffelt during her retirement reception on April 19.

Grace has served Erlanger proud as the Blood Bank Assistant since she was 19-years-old.  Not many people can say they have worked 58 years with the same business let alone the same position.

Co-workers said she has seen many things during those years and has memorized pretty much everyone’s name, face and phone number in the directory. Some say she even knows many of the medical residents who advanced in their career and retired before her. Grace never met a stranger while working at Erlanger with her “take care of everything” attitude, calm demeanor and good mood.

She said what she will miss most is her breakfast club, but many of them have also retired before her.

With the many projects she has to work on at home and her family of four children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, the laboratory staff has no worries about her growing bored in her retirement years. “I’m just looking forward to doing whatever I want to do,” added Grace.

Picture Identification:  (left to right) Monica Smith , MT (ASCP), MBA, Core Manager Clinical Laboratory; Grace Coffelt, Blood Bank Assistant and Joy Partin, Clinical Laboratory Director

Chattanooga, Tenn.– Join the Erlanger Southeast Regional Stroke Center and local healthcare specialists as they present Stop Stroke Saturday on May 5 from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Chattanooga State Health Science Center. 

 Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.  Our region, which is located in what experts call the Stroke Belt, has one of the highest incidences of stroke per capita in the United States.  Join Erlanger’s specialists  and learn how to take a proactive approach to reduce your chances of a deadly or debilitating stroke. 

Erlanger physicians will present information on risk factors, signs and symptoms, and lifestyle changes you can take to prevent becoming one of the statistics.  Attendees will learn how Erlanger has become one of the leading stroke centers in the nation with research and cutting edge treatment options, how to identify a stroke and how people with sleep apnea are at risk.  Dr. Tom Devlin, medical director of Erlanger’s Southeast Regional Stroke Center, will serve as the moderator and keynote speaker. 

The event is free, and a light lunch will be provided.  Registration is required.  Call Erlanger’s HealthLink at (423) 778-LINK (5465), Monday – Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for more information and to pre-register for the event. 

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Chattanooga,Tenn.– Local representatives from Children’s Hospital at Erlanger, Drug Enforcement Administration and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department met on April 24 to discuss a growing trend in prescription drug abuse called “Skittles” or “Pharm Parties.” 

Three patients recently arrived at Children’s Hospital with serious signs of drug abuse.  After treatment, the teens admitted they had participated in a “Skittle Party.” 

During these “parties,” teens will deposit prescription drugs in a bowl and randomly ingest the pills.  This type of activity raises serious complications such as overdosing on a particular drug or mixing a concoction of drugs that could potentially be lethal. 

“Patients will arrive unconscious or awake and acting very bizarre or combative,” said Dr. Darwin Koller, Children’s Hospital Emergency Department Medical Director.  “We rarely get the entire version of what was taken or how it was taken.  Our goal is to support life functions when the patient arrives and screen as much as we can screen for.”

In 2011, Children’s Hospital saw 200 patients with complications from ingestions.  Thirty-four of those were teenagers who overdosed on medications and seven were patients who had taken multiple medications.  This trend has not only grown in our region, but also in the state and in the nation.  Seventy-two deaths were recorded between 2000 and 2009 due to poisonings.  The Center for Disease Control also reported poisonings deaths between the ages of 25 and 64 have actually surpassed the number of motor vehicle deaths in 2009. 

“One of the most important ways to keep medication out of the hands of children and teens is to dispose your unwanted or expired medications properly,” said Cindy Jackson, RN, with Children’s Hospital Safe and Sound Program.  “Many times younger children or teens will find the medications at a family member’s or friend’s home and access them because they were not properly stored in a secure area.” 

Experts say teens will also think prescription drugs are safer to take than the illegal drugs because they are prescribed by a physician.  In fact, the medication that is prescribed may be safe for that person but not for another.  Individuals react differently to medications and must have prior authorization or instructions from a physician. 

Brad Byerly, Resident Agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration in Chattanooga, Tenn., stresses “some people may be drug dealers and not even know it” when it comes to prescription drug access.  “Some of the narcotics are equivalent to what we see on the street and the abusers have reached record levels.  Non-medical use of prescription drugs now ranks second to marijuana.” 

Representatives encourage residents in our region to dispose unwanted or expired prescriptions properly by taking them to one of the drop off events during National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.  For more information and to find a drop off location near you, please visit www.dea.gov. 

Additionally, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department will host a drop off event on Friday, April 27 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. during a health fair at Chattanooga State Community Health Institute. 

“We recommend you destroy personal information on your medication packaging before you drop off the prescriptions,” said Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Janice Atkinson.  And, for the safety of the collectors, they will not accept needles. 

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