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December 14 , 2007

HRMC has new ED Director
 
A man with 31 years of medical experience, most recently at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla., has been hired by Haywood Regional Medical Center as Emergency Department director.

Eddie Brown’s first day was on Dec. 3. He applied for the position, he said, for two reasons.

“I’m originally from Shelby, so the opportunity to come back to Western North Carolina was a big plus for me,” Brown said. “And, I was really impressed with the dedication of the hospital leadership. When the offer was extended, I didn’t hesitate.”

In 2004, Brown began work as acting nursing director and assistant nurse manager at Baptist Medical Center South. While at that hospital, one of Brown’s first responsibilities was to prepare the emergency department for opening day.

“I was responsible for obtaining equipment and supplies, setting up the ED for operations, hiring and orientation of all ED staff, and development of policies and procedures,” Brown said.

During the three years Brown presided over the Baptist Medical Center ED, he was successful in reducing the long waiting periods and increasing productivity. He also worked as part of a team that opened the first hospital in Florida that was 100 percent electronic for medical records.

“When that ED opened, there was a 300 percent increase over the expected patient volume. Within seven months, we had a very efficient ED,” he said.

Brown said his goal is to do the same thing at Haywood Regional Medical Center.

“Past issues are nothing we can’t overcome,” he said. “I have been impressed with the staff’s ability to meet the needs of patients. Together, we can develop a team-oriented staff and make this a high quality ED that provides a high level of service.”

Doctors have increased their hours of coverage in the Emergency Department, beginning their shifts at noon instead of later in the day when visitation has already increased.

“As the patient volume begins to increase, we will have double coverage and will able to cut down on the wait,” Brown said.

Brown has a collection of 114 lighthouses, which he said was the biggest problem he had getting moved to Haywood County.

He’s not only a collector of lighthouses, he enjoys photographing them. His goal is to photograph every lighthouse in the U.S. There are about 200, he said.

“I started at the Great Lakes three years ago and photographed all the lighthouses down to the Florida Keys. I’m working my way up the West Coast next,” he said.

Brown is a graduate of the New York Institute of Photography and is a certified master photographer.

He received an associate degree in applied science nursing from Gaston College in Dallas, N.C., in 1981. He completed the emergency nurse education program at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte in 1982 and received an associate degree in applied science emergency medical services in 1985 at Catawba Valley Technical College in Hickory.

He received EMS management certification at UNC-Charlotte in 1991. He graduated with honors from the University of Phoenix in Jacksonville, Fla., in January 2007, earning a bachelor of science degree in nursing. He has certifications as an emergency nurse and is on the national registry as an emergency medical technician/paramedic.

Brown worked as an EMS instructor at Brunswick Community College in Supply, N.C., from 1993-99. During his six-year tenure there, he trained more than 600 EMTs and provided classes for hundreds of public, private and industrial EMTs.

He developed the curriculum and taught the first paramedic education program at Brunswick Community College, and developed and implemented a state-approved continuing education program. He expanded the educational program to include medical education for day care workers, public school teachers and industrial EMTs.

Brown also served as assistant EMS director/training officer for Brunswick County Emergency Medical Services from 1993-99.

In 1999, he was hired as senior charge nurse/unit educator for Providence Hospital in Columbia, S.C., — a 240-bed inner-city hospital, with an 18-bed emergency department, where he remained until moving to the Baptist Medical Center five years later.

Brown is single and has a 22-year-old son, Ryan, who resides in Charlotte.

“I’m looking forward to becoming part of the community and learning the dynamics of the patients, and moving forward,” he said.