Serious illness is not the only worry you can have when sick
By a family who went through all of this
Special to GwinnettForum

(Editor's Note: A two-year-long illness in one Gwinnett family was not the only problem. The family had numerous problems with medical facilities, including arguments with nursing staff members and some poor care. Here is what this family learned during this serious sickness. The name of this family is kept anonymous, but what they learned needs to be known by all. -eeb)

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga., Dec. 12, 2008 -- It is devastating when one finds that they or a loved one has a serious illness, such as breast cancer or a brain tumor. But what many of us don't realize until perhaps much later is that the management of that illness from the insurance and health care provider standpoint can be just as important as the physician treatments for the illness itself.

Our family is fortunate in that my wife is successfully now in recovery from a serious illness. After the course of this illness over the past year or so, I would like to pass along some suggestions which can make all the difference if you have a similar experience.

1. Never go to a hospital unless the doctor who is treating you has privileges there. While this sounds simple and obvious since your physician would not admit you to a place he (or she) does not practice, realize that you might go to an emergency room your doctor does not use. Or you might be transferred from one facility to another where one or more of your doctors do not practice. We have found that it is always best to drive a little farther, and not let convenience of location play any role at all in hospital selection.

2. Trust no one at the facility to always follow written or verbal advice or instructions, even if it's posted on the patient's bedside or their armband.

3. Be aware that quality of care relates to time of day. Although not always true, shifts later in the day and on holidays may not be as competently staffed as daytime hours. Avoid checking in after 5 p.m. or on weekends or holidays, if you have that choice.

4. Always have someone stay with the patient, 24 hours a day, regardless of what the staff says. Otherwise, no one knows what may happen between midnight and 6 a.m. It is well worth it to pay someone $15 an hour to cover at least one shift.

5. Anytime a nurse or technician comes in to give medicine to the patient, not only ask what the medicine is, but look at the pill to see if it is the proper one for that time frame.

6. Pay attention to left and right (arms, legs, etc.) Sometimes a staffer may not know which one is which, or get mixed up and think it does not apply. For instance, if the instruction says 'No sticks in right arm," some people do not recognize that also means "No sticks in right hand."

7. Be aware that there are many friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable people who truly care, at most facilities. You just have to find out which ones they are.

8. Be aware that the 'On-call' doctors do not have you medical history. It is your responsibility to repeat it each time, regardless of how many times you've repeated it.

9. Remember the staff is there to serve you, not the other way around.

10. Be nice to everyone, regardless of what happens. It will make everything go better. Treat all with courtesy and respect.

Oh, and one more thing. Check your facility, physician and hospital bills for at least a year after you are discharged. The lack of communication in this area is astounding.

State should address segregation at three state universities
By ELLIOTT BRACK
Editor and Publisher

DEC. 12, 2008 --- Ever since the 1960s, Georgia has made progress at tearing down the walls of segregation.

Brack

It was January, 1961, when the University of Georgia enrolled two African American students, Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes, amid much fanfare. There was little national publicity seven months later, when Georgia Tech admitted three African American students.

While this progress at the state level was going on, nearly all local public schools were still segregated. It wasn't until 1973 that the Atlanta schools were desegregated. Dr. Alonzo Crim became Atlanta school superintendent, the first black person to head a major city in the south. He remained in the job for 15 years, and was a forceful figure in that position. Over the next few years, segregation was slowly eliminated at public schools, and at state universities. Today segregation is no longer practiced in our public schools.

Almost.

One small corner of segregation still exists in the state. It is in the operation by the Georgia Board of Regents of three primarily black state universities: Savannah State, Albany State and Fort Valley State.

Today total enrollment is 282,978 in our state colleges, of which 69,700 is black. But some 10,051 black students attend three primarily black universities. (See table.)

While Georgia schools universally accept students from all races who qualify, enrollment at these three former black universities has a limited number of white students. Though technically not segregated, primarily these universities have black students, black instructors and black administrators. This practice, in effect, of segregation in reverse. And as such, these universities are both a throwback to another era, and an embarrassment to the state, since the state basically condones this segregation.

Recently, coming to question this practice is Sen. Seth Harp, chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, who wants to merge these schools with other nearby universities. Senator Harp wants them to merge, however, for the wrong reason: money. Instead, the state ought to move to re-structure these schools in order to remove the old practice of segregation.

Harp suggests the merger of Savannah State with nearby Armstrong Atlantic State. He suggests merging four-year Albany State with Darton College, a two year institution. While some have said that Fort Valley State is not located geographically close to another college for merger, it is relatively close to two-year Macon College.

What Senator Harp should concentrate on is not the economic side of a merger. He should note that since these colleges are virtually all-black, state support for such a segregated institution should be halted. Segregation, we all agree, is against the law. The fact that these colleges operate as de facto segregated institutions should have sent up signals years ago.

Historically black Georgia colleges such as Morehouse, Spellman, Clark and Morris Brown are also mostly segregated. But there is a difference. These schools are private, not state-supported. Continuing to funnel state monies to segregated public schools primarily black is not in keeping with today's times, nor in tune with its laws.

We applaud the many years that state-supported black colleges provided a path to higher education for many black Georgians. Their heritage is secure. But now is the time to move away from sanctioned segregated practices. Complete merging of these schools with other institutions is in the best interest for the people of Georgia.

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Editor's Note: Cartoonist Bill McLemore remains hospitalized, though he is expected to be transported soon (if not by now) to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. Please continue to pray for his recovery.

City of Lilburn seeking applicants for "Lilburn 101" program

The City of Lilburn is seeking applications for its new program, Lilburn 101. The program will give an inside view of the City of Lilburn and each city department. Included in the program will be tours and activities, which will ensure an interactive experience for participants.

Deadline for applications is February 6, 2009; however, the program is limited to the first 15 applicants. Applications can be found online at www.CityofLilburn.com or may be picked up in-person at Lilburn City Hall. There is no charge for participation in Lilburn 101. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

Each session will be approximately two hours long and will begin at 6:30 PM. Dates for the sessions will be February 10, March 3, and 17, April 7 and 21.

Ticket cost is $80 to hear Bannister's State of County address

With the start of the New Year come new beginnings, new predictions, and new outlooks for 2009. On January 15, Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairman Charles Bannister will give the 2009 "State of the County" address, hosted by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and the Council for Quality Growth.

Chairman Bannister will review the County's 2008 achievements and lay out his vision for 2009 and beyond. Those in attendance will get an overview on the County's efforts in economic development, revitalization, public safety, and transportation, and find out how the County is working to improve the overall quality of life for Gwinnett citizens.

Cost of the meeting is $80 per person for members of the Chamber or Council, and $100 per person for non members. For more information, click here, or contact Nicole Wright at nicole@gwinnettchamber.org or 770-232-8816.

Duluth reschedules Car Boot Sales for Dec. 13 downtown

Because of rain on November 29, the Car Boot Sale in Downtown Duluth has been rescheduled for Saturday, December 13 from 9 a.m. until noon. A car boot sale is a British tradition where people gather to sell items from the boot (trunk) of their car. It's similar to a garage sale, yard sale, flea market or swap meet.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be shopping for great bargains on holiday decorations, tableware, china, crystal, table linens, toys, clothes and home furnishings on Historic Main Street. Come with tote bags and wear comfy shoes!

Those wanting to be a seller and turn your unwanted treasures into cash bring a $5 donation to benefit Downtown Duluth and a trunk full of treasures. Items not sold may be donated to a charity or consigned at one of the local shops. There's no need to take anything back home!

The location of the sale is the paved lot on Main Street directly across from the Festival Center and Amphitheater. For more information contact Elizabeth Rudin at 678-475-3512 or erudin@duluthga.net.

Jackson EMC offers 3 scholarships for $1,000 each

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is currently taking applications for three scholarship awards based on academic ability, faculty recommendations and financial need. Winners will be chosen by a scholarship committee, which will carefully review each application for the most qualified candidates.

The Walter Harrison Scholarship is named for a leader in the state and national electric cooperative movements. Several of these $1,000 scholarships are awarded statewide to undergraduate students enrolled in or accepted by a Georgia college, university or technical school.

Jackson EMC also offers two additional $1,000 awards through the A.T. Sharpton Scholarship program, named in honor of a late chairman of the Jackson EMC Board of Directors. The A.T. Sharpton-Gainesville State College Award is available exclusively to students planning to attend Gainesville State College. Financial need is a primary consideration, but judges will also consider academic average, standardized test scores and/or faculty recommendations.

The A.T. Sharpton Unrestricted Scholarship Award is funded through the same trust and is available to high school seniors who have already been accepted to college, or students who are currently enrolled in an accredited college, university or technical college. Applicants may be full or part-time students at the undergraduate or graduate level in any accredited two or four-year college or university in the nation. Financial need, academic average, standardized test scores and/or faculty recommendations are all considered by the judges.

Scholarship recipients must be a customer of Jackson EMC or the son or daughter of a customer, and they must also be a resident of the home served by Jackson EMC. Students interested in applying for any or all of these scholarships should contact their area high-school guidance counselors or complete the application online at the Jackson EMC Web site. The deadline for applications is January 28, 2009.

For more information about Jackson EMC's scholarship programs or to learn more about the company's commitment to the community, please contact Kay Parks, public/community relations representative at kparks@jacksonemc.com.

Duluth City Hall to get former mayors' photographs

Photographer Wallace Reid of Wallace Reid Portraiture and Judy Wilson (right) of the Duluth Historical Society have presented photographs of four former mayors to the city, shown with current Mayor Nancy Harris. The photos, which were obtained through a recent photo contest and from families, include a photo of the first female mayor in Georgia, Alice Strickland who served from 1922 to 1923, top center. Others include Mack Pittard, who served from 1911-1914, H.G. Herron, from 1930 to 1931; and Marlon Corley, who served from the late 60's to early 70's. The prints will be hung on the "Wall of Mayors" in City Hall.

• An invitation: What Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus what book you plan to read next. --eeb
  

Georgia Women of Achievement honors 59 by 2007

Georgia Women of Achievement, a statewide organization, is dedicated to publicizing, researching, and providing educational materials about the accomplishments of outstanding women in Georgia history. The need for such an organization was first suggested in 1988 by former first lady Rosalynn Carter, and two years later a group of Wesleyan College alumnae and other influential Georgians founded Georgia Women of Achievement. Inductees at the first ceremony in March 1992 were Martha Berry, Lucy Craft Laney, Juliette Gordon Low, Sara Branham Matthews, and Flannery O'Connor. A total of 59 women had been honored by 2007.

Nominees for Georgia Women of Achievement must meet the criteria established by a board of selections that includes historians, teachers, and leaders in the field of Georgia history. Nominees must have been deceased for at least ten years, and they must also be native to or clearly identified with Georgia, have made exceptional contributions, and possess a life story that inspires others to make use of their own talents. Nominations from organizations and individuals are accepted before the first of October each year; the board of selections reviews all nominations a year in advance.

The organization's projects include a Web site, a traveling exhibit featuring many of the honorees, a speakers' bureau, resource guides for middle and high school teachers (approximately 1,000 were distributed in 2006), and an annual induction ceremony. In March, which is women's history month, the organization holds a ceremony, usually at Wesleyan College in Macon, to formally induct the outstanding women selected for that year. Beginning in 2002, videos featuring honorees' biographies, photos, and artifacts were added to the program. Middle and high school students attend the ceremony; they are sponsored by local companies at no cost to the students.

At the core of Georgia Women of Achievement's mission is its Web site, an online museum devoted to the honorees; the museum "space" is where visitors can discover the remarkable life stories of outstanding Georgia women.

• To access the Georgia Encyclopedia, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
  

When you get there, ah, the view!

"It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is from the top."

-- British Author Arnold Bennett (1867-1931).

• Another invitation: What's your favorite saying? Share with others through GwinnettForum. Send to elliott@gwinnettforum.com.
  

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