Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 17, 1995 TAG: 9509180023
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
CHRISTIANSBURG - The New River Health District's new director is just getting accustomed to his job, which he started Sept. 1. But Jody Hershey already knows what the role entails.
He was director from 1987 to 1989 of the Piedmont Health District, a seven-county area around Farmville. What's more, Hershey, 38, is not unfamiliar with the New River Valley. He grew up in the Roanoke Valley and graduated from Roanoke College.
After medical school at Eastern Virginia Medical College, Hershey interned at Roanoke Memorial Hospital and at the Virginia Department of Health in Richmond. He completed his residency and a master's degree in public health at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Hershey is board certified in Family Practice, Public Health and General Preventive Medicine.
The previous director was Margaret Robinson, a native of Jamaica who has returned to that country to work in its Ministry of Health. The interim director was D. Craig Smith, who is based in Marion and is director of the Mount Rogers Health District.
Hershey said the health department's job is health promotion, disease prevention and environmental protection. He wants to add public relations to his duties, because he is not sure most people know what services the department provides.
But first, he said, "I'm still getting my feet wet."
The health department offers immunizations and vaccinations, but it is not a doctor's office, Hershey said.
Instead, the department is concerned with issues of public health, ranging from avoiding colds to preventing cardiovascular diseases.
"Health education is important. That's one component of our mission that impacts everybody," he said.
The department also does such things as septic system and restaurant inspections and water quality control. Other aspects of environmental health, especially in the industry-rich New River Valley, will be receiving increased attention, Hershey said.
The health department maintains offices in Christiansburg, Pulaski, Radford, Pearisburg and Floyd.
Rehabilitation pondered|
BLACKSBURG - Montgomery Regional Hospital has proposed changing nine of its acute-care beds to inpatient rehabilitation beds to provide rehabilitation for patients who have suffered physical or neurological trauma from accident, injury, surgery or stroke.
The beds would be the first in the New River Valley. Currently, patients must travel to Roanoke or the extreme southwestern part of the state for such services.
Rehabilitation patients would receive attention from a physician trained in physical therapy. Family members would be an integral part of the rehabilitation.
The state health commissioner is expected to offer approval for the change this fall. The hospital would spend $164,000 to renovate bathrooms to meet new standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The move will help relieve excessive local demand on skilled nursing home beds. The hospital is committed to providing the service regardless of patients' ability to pay.
ISO 9000 leaders to go to D.C.|
PULASKI - Pulaski consultants specializing in ISO 9000 quality control certification for companies will be among the first presenters at the third annual ISO 9000 conference Oct. 5-6 in Washington, D.C.
Roy D'Ardenne, president of the Pulaski-based D'Ardenne Associates Ltd., and Joyce Ingram, its vice president, will be a major part of the opening general session.
The interactive session is designed to provide information helpful to all users, registrars and accreditation bodies involved in meeting ISO 9000 standards.
Chamber to mix
CHRISTIANSBURG - The Christiansburg-Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will have a "Business After Hours" mixer Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Farmhouse.
Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be available. Make reservations by Monday at 382-4251.
by CNB