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BCRH, Vets Home team up
Physicians to treat OVH residents locally
By MICHAEL ARTHUR
Associate editor
 | | Brown County Regional HealthCARE signed an agreement with the Ohio Veterans Home to provide medical care for the Veterans Home’s 119 residents. Participants include, from left, OVH Deputy Superintendent George Kinney, OVH Nursing Home Administrator James Eckerle, Dr. Todd Williams, Dr. Andrew Ache, Dr. Michael McHenry and BCRH CEO Michael Patterson. |
GEORGETOWN - The Southern Ohio Veterans Home has teamed up with Brown County Regional HealthCARE to provide local quality medical services to more than 100 veterans. Joined by hospital staff, on Thursday, July 5 representatives of BCRH and OVH announced that Dr. Todd Williams and Dr. Michael McHenry have been named Co-Medical Directors at the Veterans' Home, and Dr. Andrew Ache and Dr. Christopher Haas will be the OVH's new resident physicians.
"We think it's both an honor and a privilege to take care of our veterans," said McHenry.
Williams, McHenry and Haas are board certified in family practice and Ache is certified in family medicine. All four physicians are among the area's most highly respected.
McHenry said the new arrangement will allow veterans who are residents of OVH to receive medical care just a few miles away, while previously some patients had to travel to receive needed medical attention.
"If the home is right here in Brown County there is no reason to travel out of county for care," said McHenry.
Additionally, McHenry said patients will be able to become more familiar with their respective physicians than was possible in the past. The same doctor who treats a patient at the Veterans Home will also treat the patient at the hospital campus when that type of care is needed.
"With this new relationship, we will have more continuity of care," said McHenry.
"That way the patients have a physician they can know and trust," said Williams.
Both Williams and McHenry agreed that OVH has an outstanding facility, and both commended the staff and administration at the Veterans' Home. The new co-directors have been treating patients at the Veterans' Home since March and Williams said that they treated about half of OVH's residents prior to the new agreement. The four physicians will now be responsible for all 119 residents.
OVH Deputy Superintendent George Kinney said he is excited about the partnership and commended BCRH for excellent services.
"Welcome, and thank you," said Kinney, who said he has personally experienced life-saving care at Brown County General Hospital.
Coincidentally Kinney and BCRH CEO Michael Patterson began their current positions on the same day in October 2005. Patterson said that while a partnership between the institutions has been a goal of both administrators, the real credit goes to the four physicians who are willing to take on new and important roles.
"It's because of the four of them that this could happen," said Patterson. "Its going to be better for the patients."
For more information on facilities, staff and services at BCRH, visit www.bcrhc.org or call (937) 378-7500.
For more information on the Ohio Veterans Home in Georgetown, visit www.ohioveteranshome.gov or call (937) 378-2900, ext. 2702.
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