In an effort to develop better support systems for older African-American cancer patients, the National Institutes of Health has awarded a three-year grant to Jill B. Hamilton, RN, Ph.D., an assistant professor at Emory University's Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. Hamilton will study support networks and coping strategies for older cancer patients in African-American families and communities. Participants in the research project will include patients at Emory's Winship Cancer Institute and the Georgia Cancer Center of Excellence at Grady Hospital.

Five Georgia hospitals have made the Solucient Top 100 Hospitals for Performance Improvement in 2005: Emory University Hospital in Atlanta; West Georgia Health System in LaGrange; St. Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta; Hart County Hospital in Hartwell; and Chestatee Regional Hospital in Dahlonega.

They are recognized for having made the greatest progress in improving hospitalwide performance from 2000 to 2004. To see the entire list, go to www.100tophospitals.com.

The McDuffie County Rotary Club recently gave the 2006 Jean Harris Award to Dr. Saundra Turner, chair of the Medical College of Georgia's Department of Biobehavioral Nursing. The award recipient is a non-Rotarian - traditionally a woman- who has made an important impact in the community. Turner was recognized for her efforts as director of the Good Samaritan House in Dearing, a partnership of the MCG School of Nursing and Dearing Baptist Church.

Nursing faculty and students have provided primary care services in the faith-based center since 2000. The clinic serves 15 to 35 patients one afternoon a week. All services are free.

Prior to the Good Samaritan House, no other health care services were in Dearing. The center reported 791 visits in 2005.