Craig Tyree, M.D. and the staff at the Barren River Regional Cancer Center in Glasgow are celebrating 10 years of delivering compassionate and technically advanced radiation therapy to cancer patients in Barren and surrounding counties. Since opening in 2002, Barren River Regional Cancer Center has provided radiation treatment services to over 2,000 patients.

“For the past decade, my staff and I have had the opportunity to bring the most advanced treatments in cancer care to this area,” said Craig Tyree, M.D., Radiation Oncologist and Medical Director for Barren River Regional Cancer Center. “We are proud to provide this region with advanced technology and compassionate care, and we are looking forward to many more years of working with the outstanding people in this community.”

Barren River Regional Cancer Center originally was established by The Medical Center in late 2002. In early 2003, The Medical Center entered into a joint venture with TJ Samson Community Hospital to operate the Center. Dr. Tyree, a board certified radiation oncologist, has served as Medical Director since opening. In addition to Dr. Tyree, the Center is staffed by radiation therapists, a medical physicist, dosimetrists, and oncology nurses. Barren River Regional Cancer Center is accredited by The Joint Commission and is recognized by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.

In 2009 Barren River Regional Cancer Center completed an approximate $5 million expansion. Part of the 4,000 square feet that was added to the existing structure was a vault for a new Trilogy™ linear accelerator. The Trilogy combines image-guidance technology to focus on a tumor with a very precise radiation beam. With advanced technologies, the Center offers stereotactic radiosurgery, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic body radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), 3-D conformal radiotherapy, and palliative radiation therapy.

To celebrate the 10 year anniversary, Dr. Tyree and the staff at the Barren River Regional Cancer Center will host an open house on Wednesday, January 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. The Center is located at 103 Trista Lane in Glasgow. For more information, call (270) 651-2478.

Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC), parent company of The Medical Center, has achieved Accreditation with Distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association. This highest recognition awarded by the ANCC Accreditation Program is granted to CHC for four years, February 2013 through March 2017.

ANCC Accreditation distinguishes organizations that demonstrate quality and excellence in the curriculum design and delivery of continuing nursing education (CNE). Accredited organizations, like CHC, meet comprehensive, evidence-based criteria to ensure CNE activities are effectively planned, implemented and evaluated.

Only organizations that demonstrate zero deficiencies requiring a progress report achieve Accreditation with Distinction. As of September 2012, less than 10% of all ANCC-accredited organizations achieve this honor.

“We are proud to be recognized by ANCC for our commitment to continuous improvement and the highest quality continuing education for nurses,” said Connie Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of CHC. “Nurses throughout Southcentral Kentucky have access to the highest caliber of education to meet their certification or licensure requirements, which in turn contributes to improved healthcare outcomes for patients in this region.”

ANCC Accreditation is a voluntary, peer review process intended to strengthen and sustain the quality and integrity of continuing nursing education, making it worthy of public confidence. Accrediting organizations, like ANCC, assess providers of continuing nursing education to ensure they meet rigorous global standards established by ANCC.

Residents of Bowling Green and Warren County have chosen The Medical Center as the number one healthcare facility in the area. The Medical Center at Bowling Green received the Consumer Choice Award as the result of a survey conducted by the National Research Corporation. In the annual survey, The Medical Center came out on top with consumers in the areas of quality and image.

Four Kentucky hospitals received the Consumer Choice Award this year. Other Kentucky winners include Baptist East in Louisville, Central Baptist in Lexington and the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Medical Center also in Lexington.

Consumers were asked about the overall quality of the hospital, the expertise of its physicians and nurses, and the image and reputation of the facility.

“It is an honor when we receive an award that directly represents the voice of our patients. To care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities we serve is The Medical Center’s mission statement. The Consumer Choice Award exemplifies what The Medical Center strives to deliver every day to our community,” said Connie Smith, Chief Executive Officer of The Medical Center.

The award identifies hospitals which healthcare consumers have chosen as having the highest quality in more than 300 markets including more than 250,000 households throughout the United States. Annually, the National Research Corporation awards hospitals whose consumers have recognized them for providing the highest quality healthcare.

This is the third time The Medical Center in Bowling Green has received the Consumer Choice Award.

Partners sign a formal agreement to prevent accidents and injuries among workers constructing The Medical Center-WKU Health Sciences Complex.

Today, a formal signing ceremony was held to recognize Scott, Murphy & Daniel and The Medical Center for entering into a formal safety partnership with the Kentucky Labor Cabinet. The partnership is aimed at reducing accidents and injuries through the implementation of safety training and safe working procedures during the construction of The Medical Center-WKU Health Sciences Complex that benefit `workers constructing the new facility.

The Construction Partnership Program is a voluntary agreement in which safety and health experts from the Kentucky Office of Occupational Safety and Health (KOSH), Division of Education and Training make quarterly, consultative visits to the building site to provide extensive safety and health surveys.

Labor Cabinet Secretary Mark Brown signed the agreement with Scott, Murphy and Daniel and The Medical Center Officials.

Education and training on Kentucky OSH standards are provided when applicable. This continuous engagement between the Partners eliminates the need for random compliance inspections during the construction of The Medical Center-WKU Health Sciences Complex as long as state requirements are being met.

In support of Western Kentucky University, The Medical Center is constructing the new facility to house the university’s nursing and physical therapy programs and to provide educational space for the hospital. Eighty percent of the facility will be used by WKU to accommodate assembly, training, classroom and business functions for WKU. The remaining 20 percent will be used by The Medical Center for an auditorium and bed labs for clinical training.

The Medical Center-WKU Health Sciences Complex will be a three story, ~73,400 SF free-standing Facility located at 700 First Avenue in Bowling Green, KY. It has been designed and engineered to allow for a future Fourth and Fifth Floor vertical expansion of the Third Floor footprint. Vehicular parking is provided via two new lots.

The Medical Center and Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging (WKDI) have entered into an agreement for the hospital to acquire WKDI. The acquisition of WKDI is a cost effective means to expand The Medical Center’s services by offering a second location for outpatient imaging. Continued growth in the demand for diagnostic imaging services in the region necessitates the need for expansion.

“Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging has an exceptional reputation in Southcentral Kentucky as a leader in providing quality imaging services with excellent customer service for its patients,” said Connie D. Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Health Corporation, the parent company of The Medical Center. “WKDI is a welcomed addition to The Medical Center family that will further enhance the quality of services we provide the community.”

“Since 1996, Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging has played an important role in the healthcare needs of thousands in Southcentral Kentucky,” said Rodney D. Veitschegger, Jr., M.D., co-owner of WKDI. “Dr. Sean Willgruber and I very much appreciate the patients and referring physicians who have allowed us the privilege of serving them. The merger with The Medical Center will expand the availability of services to patients of both WKDI and The Medical Center. The entire staff at WKDI is committed to a seamless transition.”

WKDI will be an outpatient department of The Medical Center and will begin operations under the new ownership effective October 1. WKDI will maintain its original name and all imaging services currently provided will continue. Patients should not experience any change in service as a result of the acquisition.

About The Medical Center Diagnostic Imaging Center

The Medical Center Diagnostic Imaging Center provides radiology, cardiac scoring, 64-slice CT, nuclear medicine, ultrasound, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), echocardiography, stress testing, holter monitoring, digital mammography, angiography, PET/CT, CT-3D treatment planning, vascular imaging, bone density evaluation, stereotactic breast biopsy, and dual head nuclear cameras. The Medical Center is accredited by the American College of Radiology in MRI, CT, Nuclear Medicine and Mammography as well as accredited by The Joint Commission.

About Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging

Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging (WKDI) provides high field MRI, open MRI, digital mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, ultrasound, bone density evaluation, fluoroscopy, CT scan, nuclear medicine and x-ray services. WKDI is accredited by the American College of Radiology in MRI, CT, Nuclear Medicine and Mammography. WKDI is located at 1635 Scottsville Road in Bowling Green.