FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2010

Franklin Regional Hospital Celebrating 100 Years

FRANKLIN: When Mandy Pickess began volunteering at Franklin Regional Hospital, it cost .05 to mail a letter, a gallon of gas was .30, and Lyndon B. Johnson was in the White House. That was 46 years ago.

“FRH was a lot smaller in 1964,” she says. “My first volunteer job was posting the patient mail, but today, people aren’t really in the hospital long enough to get any mail! But a lot of things haven’t changed at all. The first thing we learned when we came through the door was that patients always come first, and that is still true today. And back in 1964, the people here were my family—everyone cared for each other. Forty-six years later, and that’s still true, too.”

This year, FRH is celebrating its Centennial. After 100 years of caring for our community, this facility, which was once a little hospital on the hill, is bigger and better than ever. But what is so remarkable about FRH is that as much as the hospital and medical services have grown and changed, the character, warmth, and family feel of FRH have persevered. Just as has been the case for the past 100 years, when you walk down the halls at FRH today, people smile, say hello, and call you by name.

One reason for that is the longevity of doctors, staff, and volunteers at FRH. There are a number of staff members who have passed their 20 and 30 year marks, and a few who are even approaching 40 years of service. When asked why they stay so long, the answer you hear is consistent: “The people here, staff and patients, are my family.”

“That is what sets FRH apart, and what makes it a special place,” explains Marcia Hansen, Vice President of Patient Care Services. “Not only does FRH offer our community top quality medical care, but it truly is a community hospital, and its doctors, staff, volunteers, patients, and visitors not only feel like family; they often are family. The Three Rivers Region has a rich history, and many families have been here for generations. Because of that, many of the people who are on staff here grew up in this community, and this hospital has been a part of the fabric of their lives since their childhood. That kind of connection, history, and ownership creates a warmth and a sense of belonging that patients can feel when they come through our doors. ”

That sense of connection certainly exists for Mandy Pickess. To Mandy, like so many others in Franklin and the neighboring communities, FRH is part of her history. “I came to Franklin in 1941,” says Mandy. “Franklin Regional Hospital was my hospital then, and I’m still proud to call it my hospital today.”

LRGHealthcare is a not-for-profit healthcare charitable trust representing Lakes Region General Hospital, Franklin Regional Hospital, Affiliated Medical Providers, HealthLink, Community Wellness Centers, the Dental Resource Center, the Holistic Health Center, and other community-based services. LRGHealthcare is committed to making health care available, accessible, and affordable to you.

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