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Mountain Hope Thanks Ober Gatlinburg and Gatlinburg Sky Lift for Sevier County Days Donations

by EventsFundraisersNewsworthy

Oberttram-510x343 hat-couple-on-lift-2-510x383There’s a longtime local tradition of tourism attractions offering Sevier County Days to local residents at reduced prices. It’s an opportunity for Sevier Countians to enjoy the attractions that normally cater mainly to tourists.

Recently two Gatlinburg businesses, Ober Gatlinburg and the Skylift, took Sevier County days a step farther by donating the proceeds to Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic. In this way, local folks benefitted twice, both by having fun and by supporting their neighbors, the Clinic’s patients.

We are grateful that management at the Skylift and Ober generously decided to support the non-profit Clinic in this way. Providing quality medical and dental care to local citizens with no health insurance does not come cheap. We charge our patients an affordable fee, but the actual cost to us for each patient visit is much more than we recoup from patients. To make up the difference, we depend on support from local businesses as well as grants and private donations. Fundraisers such as the two Sevier County Days events are most welcome.

Our thanks go out to Ober Gatlinburg and to the Skylift for their wonderful community support.

Warm regards,

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Ashley Burnette

Director of Fund Development

 

 

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Dental Area Gets a Makeover

by News You Can UseNewsworthy
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Mountain Hope Dental Unit Before Renovation

Mountain Hope Clinic’s dental area is getting a sparkling new look, thanks to hard-working volunteers from a local bank and a grant from a dental insurance company.

Laurie Sullivan and six co-workers from BB&T rolled up their sleeves when the Clinic closed for the evening one Tuesday. They pulled off baseboards and set to work painting the rooms and corridor that comprise the dental area. Four of them returned the next day to add another coat of paint. By that Thursday, the rooms were back in use.

“This is the third year in a row we’ve been working for Mountain Hope,” said Laurie, who is the captain of BB&T’s Lighthouse Project. Employees in BB&T bank branches can choose their own projects, which are then approved and funded by the bank. Sevier County branches chose the Clinic and Sevier County Food Ministries for their projects this year.

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Mountain Hope Dental Unit After Renovation

Not only did the bank employees wield paintbrushes, they also donated an examination table and a urinalysis machine. Medical Assistant Teresa Large is particularly pleased with the new machine. “This machine’s easier to use and faster,” she said.  A grant from Delta Dental’s Smile 180 Foundation is paying for the dental area renovation, which will also include much-needed new flooring. “Our clients in the community use the Clinic,” said Allison Hall, another of the BB&T painters. “We just helped kick (the renovation) off.”

In past years BB&T employees have supported the Clinic in several ways. Two years ago they donated a scanner that is being used to move the Clinic from paper to electronic records. Last year they donated a large, powerful shredder.

“The BB&T employees’ work on the dental area renovation will improve our dental patients’ experience,” said Ashley Burnette, the Clinic’s director of fund development. “We really appreciate everything that they have done for us.”

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Non-profit Donates to Mountain Hope

by NewsworthyVolunteers

TMC PicLots of companies come to Sevier County for corporate retreats — but they don’t usually get involved with helping locals maintain good health.

Therapy Management Corp. (TMC), based in Homosassa, Fla., is the exception. Through its non-profit arm, Together Making Changes, the business donated $1,094 to the Clinic when its middle management team gathered in Sevier County last month for a working retreat.

Whenever Therapy Management Corp. has a retreat, Together Making Changes does something to improve the area where the retreat is held. TMC Area Manager Kenneth Eaton and a colleague toured the clinic and made gift towards the healthcare of local patients. They also gave much-needed useful items to the Clinic, including a hand-held vacuum, paint brushes and disposable paint kits, electrical outlet strips, cleaning sponges, rakes and brooms. The Clinic’s kitchen gained paper plates, napkins, paper towels and coffee.

Together Making Changes is a tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) organization funded through Therapy Management employees’ time, talent and treasure. It’s focused on supporting initiatives of interest to TMC’s team members, and on positive health, educational, spiritual and financial outcomes in local communities. For example, this year the employees have decided to support the Wounded Warrior project among other initiatives.

TMC’s therapists and other staff provide contract and outpatient therapy services throughout the United States.

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Mary Vance Receives Eloise Q. Hatmaker Award

by Newsworthy

Mary-Vance-2-(1)The Eloise Q. Hatmaker Award recognizes an individual who has contributed outstanding service to the Rural Health Association of Tennessee and rural health over a period of years. Eloise Q. Hatmaker was instrumental in the establishment of the State Office of Rural Health. As its first director, Ms. Hatmaker worked toward alleviating health workforce shortages in rural areas and also helped establish the Rural Health Association of Tennessee.

Mary Vance is the Executive Director of the Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic and was instrumental in its development. Although the clinic is not located in a rural area of Sevier County, patients come from the rural corners of the county as well as other adjacent rural counties.  Ms. Vance is known for always having had a deep passion for all issues concerning rural health and access to care for patients. In addition to her position at Mountain Hope, Mary has held the chair position on the Rural Health Association of Tennessee’s Legislative and Policy Committee and is currently the Chair of the East Tennessee Regional Health Council which represents 15 counties in East Tennessee. She has and continues to guide policy positions which support rural healthcare for the state of Tennessee and has been instrumental in the formation of the Tennessee Charitable Care Network (TCCN).  Mary Vance is committed to the vision of a strong, compassionate health care safety net for all Tennesseans in need. A founding board member, she currently serves on the TCCN Board of Directors and as the Chair of the TCCN Public Policy Committee. In this role, she is a tireless advocate for the uninsured and underserved all across Tennessee.