7/2/09
Clarendon prepares to say farewell to Dr. George
By Cathy Gilbert

Al Cothran Photo

A large crowd of committee members, county officials, business leaders and well-wishers turned out Monday for the groundbreaking ceremony of the second phase of the Weldon Auditorium renovation project. This phase will add on a 6,000 sq. ft. lobby. The auditorium is expected to be completed in late 2010.

When Clarendon Memorial Hospital officials elected to start a hospitalist program in 2006, they had no idea the caliber of physician they would be getting in Dr. George Harrison.

A hospitalist is a doctor whose practice is limited to the care of patients admitted to the hospital.

With the hospitalist program, when a patient is admitted by a participating physician, his or her care is assigned to the hospitalist who will work closely with the patient’s primary physician but is available to see the patient, speak with the patient’s family and order the appropriate and necessary tests and procedures immediately.

“Trying to care for in-patients and running a successful outpatient practice is simply draining on today’s physicians,” Harrison said. “With the hospitalist as a partner, doctors are able to provide better care to both their office patients, as well as their admitted patients.”

Sadly for this community, Harrison will depart the Clarendon Healthcare System and transfer to Taylor Regional Hospital in Hawkinsville, Georgia.

“Life happens,” said the 38-year-old native of Swainsboro, Georgia. “My wife is seven hours away from her family and I am three hours away from mine. My mother-in-law is in frail health and we need to be closer to both our families.”

Harrison, who technically works for Eagle Hospital Physicians, who contracts with CMH, will be transferring to another hospital that Eagle serves and will also be starting the hospitalist program there.

In 2008, the CMH hospitalist program received the company’s “Soaring Eagle” award as being the most efficient program within the company. Eagle is located in eight states, serving 25 hospitals and employing over 250 physicians.

CMH’s hospitalist program currently serves seven local physicians, three nursing homes and all unassigned patients that are admitted to the hospital.

Harrison said he has loved living and working in Manning.

“By far, this is the best staff I have ever worked with in my entire career,” he said. “They all take a genuine interest in the patients’ welfare and their compassion is beyond compare.

“The people here are also very endearing,” he continued. “They are down-to-earth and so very friendly. We have established some true friends, which makes it hard to leave.”

Clarendon Healthcare System CEO Ed Frye said he is devastated to see Harrison leave.

“Of course we understand why the Harrison family needs to make this move, but George will be very difficult to replace,” Frye said. “He has been instrumental in building our hospitalist program for which we have received numerous compliments for the outstanding care he has delivered here. He is one of the finest gentlemen I have ever known and we will truly feel his loss.”

Harrison will work until July 13 and report to his new position on July 15.