Archbold Medical Center| Archives Magazine | Winter 2018

ARCHBOLD.ORG • WINTER 2018 9 CARE FORTHE END OF LIFE —Continued on page 10 of the late “Hutch” Hutchison. “Having to drive to see my father every day for 11 days was tough. Having a local inpa- tient hospice facility would have made things so much easier on family and friends who wanted to visit my father.” “An inpatient hospice center is entirely consistent with Archbold’s mission—to provide the citizens of south Georgia and north Florida with high-quality, patient-focused healthcare in a cost-effective manner,” said Chip Bragg, MD, anesthesiologist at Archbold Memorial Hospital. “My family benefited from inpatient hospice care when my father became gravely ill with cancer. When my father was admitted to an inpatient hos- pice facility, not only did he get the high- level care he needed and deserved, but my mother, my brother and I were better able to cope with all the other aspects of dealing with Dad’s end of life.” The John B. and Elizabeth V. Wight Inpatient Hospice Center Southwest Georgia lost a true pillar of the community when John B. “Johnny” Wight Jr. passed away in June 2017. The Wight family has a long history with Archbold and the medical community in southwest Georgia. Johnny’s grand- father, John B. Wight Sr., was one of the earliest trustees of Archbold Memorial Hospital (1927–1936). Beth Wight’s brother, Robert, served as chairman of the Grady County Hospital Authority in Cairo for over 20 years. Johnny was born at Archbold Memorial Hospital in 1929. An accomplished “Having an inpatient unit would give patients and their loved ones an additional choice for end- of-life care.” —BethWight businessman, he and his wife, Beth, con- sistently gave back to their community in time, talent and treasure. Johnny served as an Archbold trustee for 36 years and was a co-founder of the Archbold Classic Pro-Am Golf Tournament—an annual fundraiser for the Archbold nursing schol- arship program. “I realized, when my husband was ill, how nice it was to have help and support from Hospice of Southwest Georgia,” said Beth. “Having an inpatient unit would give patients and their loved ones an additional choice for end-of-life care.” Sensing a need for inpatient hospice care, the Wight family felt compelled to give the lead gift for what will be named the John B. and Elizabeth V. Wight Inpatient Hospice Center. The new unit will help people whose circumstances make it difficult to keep a loved one at home, and patients will also benefit from the close attention of doctors and nurses when needed. Having a local inpatient hospice facility will broaden the reach of this much-needed care to more people. “The John B. and Elizabeth V. Wight Inpatient Hospice Center will complete the circle of compassionate care that is the mission of Archbold and at the heart of our wonderful, giving community,” said Gina Shumake. WIGHT INPATIENT HOSPICE CENTER