Business memo 12/12/05

Area trauma center receives national award

The Gene E. Huckstep Emergency Center/Level III Trauma Center at Saint Francis Medical Center received the Compass Award from Press Ganey, a national leader in measuring patient satisfaction for more than 6,000 health-care organizations. Saint Francis' emergency center is the only state-designated Level III trauma center in Southeast Missouri. The emergency center earned the Compass Award for showing significant improvement in patient satisfaction scores over the past two years. Compass Award recipients demonstrate an ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality of care to residents in their communities.

Clinical lab science program reaccredited

Southeast Missouri Hospital's School of Medical Technology/ Clinical Laboratory Science Program has received reaccreditation by the national Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). Program director Ann Green said the program received an excellent review by an inspection team that visited the hospital recently. The program is now eligible for a seven-year accreditation renewal. The hospital's School of Medical Technology/Clinical Laboratory Science Program was established in 1999 to meet laboratory personnel needs in Southeast Missouri. Since its inception, the program has graduated 35 students, Green said. Hospitals in Southeast Missouri employ 19 of the 35 graduates. Other graduates work in Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana.

Motivational conferences scheduled for January

More than 3,700 FFA members will attend the 14 Greenhand Motivational Conferences held across Missouri Jan. 3 to 6. Missouri FFA officers from around the state will present programs about the many career opportunities in agriculture along with small group activities concerning goal setting, participation and involvement in high school and community activities. Greenhands (first-year FFA members) are offered opportunities to talk with state FFA officers and learn from their experiences. The conference will be in Cape Girardeau at 9 a.m. Jan. 6 at Dempster Auditorium at Southeast Missouri State University.

Cape Air Festival wins awards at convention

The Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival won accolades in marketing at the annual International Council of Air Shows Convention, held in Las Vegas two weeks ago. ICAS honored the best marketing products of more than 350 entries submitted to the organization for its yearly competition. The awards presented to the airshow organizers during the activity were given in two categories: large and small air shows. The Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival took home four awards in the small show category. The awards were first place for air show promotional brochure, second place in television commercial, third place for newspaper advertising and third place for sponsorship proposal.

-- From staff reports