A
Gaston
provides
top care
Gaston Memorial Hospital
provides comprehensive
health care services to more
than 13,000 inpatients and
60,000 emergency patients
each year. More than 5,300 §
surgeries are performed an-
nually. And Gaston
Memorial features only pri-
vate patient rooms, a definite
plus for patients.
Since the hospital opened
in its current location in
1973, Gaston Memorial has
grown and improved to serve
the health care needs of the
community. New facilities
include Gaston Ambulatory
Surgery; the First Health ur-
gent care centers; Gaston
Memorial Home Health
Care; a Radiation Oncology
Center with a separate hospi-
tal entrance; the Diagnostic
Center; and Courtland
Terrace, a 96-bed nursing
care facility.
In addition, in October the
hospital celebrated the open-
ing of a new 14,000 square
foot Emergency Department
and the Birthplace at Gaston
Memorial, a 23-suite single
room concept maternity cen-
ter for family-centered births.
A 72-bed Psychiatric
Services Department offers
the largest comprehensive
hospital psychiatry program
in the region, with separate
adolescent, adult and geri-
atric diagnostic and treatment
programs.
The hospital is well
equipped with the latest in
sophisticated technology, in-
Kings Mountain Convalescent
Susan Martello, RN, PRN team, watches the monitored vital signs of an intensive care
patient.
cluding four critical care
units, a linear accelerator,
two CT scanners, surgical
lasers, Magnetic Resonance
Imaging, a sleep disorders
laboratory, cardiac catheriza-
tion and lithotripsy.
"Gaston Memorial pro-
vides patients with conve-
nient access to virtually ev-
ery general health care
service available," said
Wayne Shovelin, hospital
and health care president.
"For most medical services,
there is no need for our pa-
tients to travel long dis-
tances. Gaston Memorial
provides excellent care right
in the community."
Recently nearly two dozen
physicians have been
recruited to the hospital's
medical staff, representing 10
different medical specialties
and bringing Gaston
Memorial's active medical
staff to more than 220 physi-
cians. Most doctors maintain
practices in Gastonia or in
Kings Mountain, Belmont,
Bessemer City or
Cherryville, providing much
needed medical care to area
residents.
Gaston Memorial is a pri-
mary health education source
for area residents. In addition
to a number of free seminars
offered each year on various
topics, the hospital offers
programs in weight reduc-
tion, smoking cessation,
urges involvement of family
Kings Mountain
Convalescent Center, a 124-
bed Intermediate and skilled
around-the-clock nursing
care facility at 716 Sipes..
Street, admitted its first
patient October 29, 1973 and
on March 1, 1976 admitted
its first patient in the new
wing.
"The decision to make
one's home in a convalescent
center is not an easy one and
all of us try to help the pa-
tient make that adjustment
and encourage family in-
volvement in a variety of
ways," says Administrator
Karen Greene Radford.
Licensed by all appropriate
state and federal authorities,
the local facility accepts
Medicare, Medicaid, VA cer-
tified and private insurance
as payments for services. The
care is provided under the di-
rection of the patient's per-
sonal physician and Director
of Nursing Joan Bradley and
Assistant Director of Nursing
Nellie Mayes, aided by a
staff of registered and li-
LINVILLE MANOR
From Page 6F
the resident to hand over the deed and title
to his property. Residents pay a monthly
fee, which includes: three meals a day, spe-
cial diets, all utilities except phone, laun-.
dering of all linens and personal clothing,
daily housekeeping, the Wellness Program,
cable TV hookup, assistance if needed,
emergency call system, scheduled local
transportation and daily planned activities.
Residents gather for each meal in an at-
tractive dining room and are served by con-
genial staff members. There is also a pri-
vate dining room for special occasions.
The private and semi-private bedrooms
are traditionally furnished, but residents
may bring their own furnishings along with
censed practical nurses and
certified nursing assistants.
The design of the hand-
some brick facility allows
easy access to any destina-
tion and special features that
add to the quality of life are
simple to find and use. The
geographic location makes it
convenient for friends and
family to drop by for a visit
or meal and for staff to take
physically-able patients on
outings.
Diets are ordered by physi-
cians and followed by a com-
petent dietary department
staff headed by Carol
Cochran.
Therapeutic activities in-
clude religious programs,
arts, crafts, music, exercise
classes, movies and games,
planned outings and trips,
resident council, a volunteer
program, and other group
and individual events led by
Marshanna Maddox, activi-
ties director; Shirley Mathis,
activities assistant; Judy
Bowen, social services direc-
tor; and Karen Bridges, pa-
tient care coordinator.
Toni Camp is office man-
ager and Elaine Jackson is
assistant office manager.
David Ogden is housekeep-
ing/laundry supervisor.
Radford said the staff en-
courages patients to help
themselves as much as possi-
ble, encouraging them to re-
tain all the independence that -
conditions will permit.
Patients are encouraged to
eat in the dining room and to
participate in activities.
Volunteers from community
and church groups lead many
of the activities with the pa-
tient's interest at heart, she
said.
Patients adjusting to new
surroundings take time, pa-
tience and understanding,
says Radford, all of which is
accomplished by the staff,
family and volunteers work-
ing together.
Kings Mountain
Convalescent Center is one
of 15 White Oak Manor
nursing facilities in the
Carolinas with corporate of-
fices in Spartanburg, S. C.
them, if they like.
A wellness center is in a central location
and outfitted with parallel bars, a cycle and
tread mill. A masseuse makes frequent
scheduled visits.
The home also has a beauty parlor/barber
shop, a library/reading room, several
lounge areas and an activities center. In all,
there are nine different areas where a resi-
dent can choose to be with others besides
his or her bedroom.
Linville Manor has a 50' X 50' garden for
the residents to work in and Sumner said
they have plans for a greenhouse.
Also looking toward the future, Sumner
said they plan to build apartments on land
that adjoins the facility. These residents will
be able to partake in services presently of-
fered at Linville Manor of Shelby.
babysitting, Lamaze birth
and infant care, and more.
The hospital fills hundreds of
requests for speakers and co-
ordinates such programs as
the Mall Walkers Club and
the Diabetes Support Group.
Gaston Health Care, Inc.,
employs more than 2,000
area residents, making a sub-
stantial contribution to the
community's economy.
"As the major health care
provider for our area, Gaston
Memorial is sensitive to the
needs of area residents,"
Shovelin continued. "We
want people to know we
mean what our slogan says:
Far Advanced. Not Far
Away."
WE ARE
PROUD
OF OUR
PROGRESS
IN
CLEVELAND
COUNTY
helps all year
Chartered in 1959, the
Kings Mountain United
Fund, a charitable arm of the
community, has reached into
many homes with assistance
to thousands of people during
the 31-year history.
As the years have passed,
the needs have become
greater with fledgling
economies over the past few
years making Kings
Mountain people dig even
deeper into their pocketbooks
to help meet the increased
goals and needs of many
agencies.
In less than six years the
goal jumped from $80,500 to
over $120,000 in 1991 with
15 agencies benefiting from
the "fair share" gifts from in-
dividuals, industries and
businesses.
Kings Mountain industry
has long been a leader in
United Fund giving, with
employees continually donat-
ing one hour's pay per month
through pledge cards dis-
tributed by plant manage-
ment and the money taken
from weekly paychecks.
Giving in this manner elimi-
nates door-to-door canvasses
by individual agencies.
All monies raised by the
Kings Mountain United Fund
stay in the Greater Kings
Mountain area to help agen-
cies meet the needs of Kings
Mountain area people. The
United Fund is operated by
volunteers and there is no
paid staff. Hundreds of vol-
unteers help each year in the
annual drive which wraps up
arounc Christmas season
with a victory celebration
banquet in January.
Early leaders of United
CLEVELAND COUNTY
A PROGRESSIVE PAST
A PROMISING FUTURE
Y
%
United Way
Fund relish the victory of ev-
ery campaign because Kings
Mountain people's reputation
of generosity is exceeded ev-
ery year. In 1977, Kings
Mountain was a state leader
in giving to the United Fund
and officers still cherish the
big trophy the community
won for the highest percent-
age of giving to United Fund.
The goal of $39,000 was
topped by 117 percent and
the years following have seen
successful campaigns.
Kings Mountain UF
President Glenn Anderson
and Campaign Chairman Pat
Carter said it was tough in
1991 to meet goals with the
sluggish economy which
closed mills, the bread and
butter of this industrial com:
munity. "Kings Mountain
people always come
through," they said, and the
rewards will be seen in such
programs as the American
Red Cross, Kings Mountain
Crisis Ministry, Boy Scouts,
Girl Scouts, Kings Mountain
Rescue Squad, Grover
Rescue Squad, Cleveland
County Children's Home,
Kings Mountain Boys Club,
CODAP, Salvation Army,
Cleveland Mental Health
Association, Hospice,
Cleveland Child Abuse
Prevention, and Cleveland
Vocational Industries.
Xe
THE
CLEVELAND COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS