Page 4
Duke University Medical Center, InterCom
From
The
Auxiliary
At ^Ir. Prenzel’s request a new
Auxiliary Hostess Service was started
in early November in the Surj^ical
Private Diagnostic Clinic and has
been available three or four days a
week. Patients, on their admission to
the hospital, are escorted to their
rooms by volunteers, who help them
to get settled, answer questions, and
try to provide a friendly and reassur
ing atmosphere during the first few
minutes in new and sometimes be
wildering circumstances. It is hoped
that this service can be expanded
gradually to include all patients ad
mitted to Duke Hospital during the
daytime hours, at least. Thus far, the
idea seems to have met with enthu
siasm on the part of the patients and
the staff.
On Tuesday, November 12, the
Duke Hospital Auxiliary were host
esses for a luncheon meeting of rep
resentatives of other auxiliaries in
District IV of the North Carolina
Hospital Association. Mrs. H. Shel
ton Smith, chairman of the State
Council on Auxiliaries, presided over
the discussion of plans for the state
meeting in June and for district Aux
iliary Workshops in the fall. Mr.
Wright Langley, Director of Health
Careers in North Carolina, explained
the plans and procedures for promot
ing this field in the state.
The architects’ detailed plans for
the Auxiliary gift shop and a new
cottee counter to replace the present
lobby counter are in the final stages.
The new Main Entrance Building is
scheduled for occupancy in early
1966, and the Auxiliary looks for
ward to the excitement of moving in
to new quarters and new ventures.
Norman Nelson
to Leave Duke
Xorman K. Nelson, Public Informa
tion Officer for the Duke University
-Medical Center, has resigned to ac
cept a position as a member of the
Communication Service of the Mayo
('linic, Rochester, Minnesota.
He will assume his new duties early
ill January. His work will involve
communications within the clinic or
ganization and wnth the press and
other mass information media. An
early assignment will be to assist with
press-related aspects of a series of
scientific programs to be held in
Kocliester during 1964, Mayo Centen
nial Year.
i\lr. Nelson .joiiied the stuff of tlu'
Duke I'niversity Bureau of Public
Inforiiiatioii in 1949 and three years
later was named assistant director.
He has been I'esjionsible since 1956
for ha lulling mass media communica
tions for Duke Hos])ital, the Schools
of Medicine and Nursing and otiier
units of the iledical (’enter.
Originally from West Palm Beai-li.
Florida, -Mr. .Nelson liolds both the
A.B. and ]\1.A. degrees from Duke.
He is a member of tlie National As
sociation of Science Writers and the
American College Public Relations
Association.
AUXILIARY HOSTESS SERVICE GOES TO WORK. Mrs. H. J. Henderson, serving
on the new Auxiliary Hostess Service greets Mrs. J. L. Parker on her admission to
Surgical P. D. C. The service is designed to provide friendly reassurance and assistance
to patients entering Duke Medical Center.
(Duke photo by Sparks)