Health briefs

Life Care Center welcomes new directors

Life Care Center of Cape Girardeau, 2852 Independence St., a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, has hired Executive Director Nick Owens of Cape Girardeau and Admissions and Marketing Director Christy Leimer of Jackson.

Owens comes to Life Care Center from Prestige Health Care in Pendleton, Ore., where he served as executive director. Before that position, he was executive director for Extendicare in Port Angeles, Wash. He has been a long-term care administrator for 12 years. A native of Pierre, S.D., Owens earned his bachelor's degree in business administration.

Leimer comes to Life Care from Jones Drug Store in Jackson, where she served as a pharmacy tech for five years. She earned her bachelor's degree in finance from Southeast Missouri State University and is working on her master's in general management.

Doctor granted visa waiver through DRA

SIKESTON, Mo. — Dr. Syed Sayeed has been granted a J-1 visa waiver by the U.S. Department of State to work as a psychiatrist for the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston as part of the DRA's Delta Doctors program.

"This program is designed to increase the number of physicians providing care to the people we serve," said Pete Johnson, federal co-chairman of the Delta Regional Authority. "The Delta Doctors initiative allows foreign physicians who are trained in this country to work in medically underserved areas for three years. Many of them choose to stay far longer once they develop a patient base."

Smith attends veterinary association convention

Dr. Kelly N. Smith recently attended the 145th American Veterinary Medical Association annual convention in New Orleans. Smith is an associate veterinarian at Dogwood Veterinary Hospital, 1208 W. Cape Rock Drive in Cape Girardeau.

Sikeston Health Care names employee of month

SIKESTON, Mo. — Emily "June" Burnett was chosen as the June employee of the month at Sikeston Health Care.

Burnett has worked at Sikeston Health Care as a certified nursing assistant since 1981. Prior to working as a CNA, she worked at H&R Block as a tax preparer. When she began work at Sikeston Health Care, Burnett worked full time at H&R Block during tax season, while working part time at Sikeston Health Care. After 35 years, she retired from Sikeston Health Care and became a full-time CNA.

Wellness center blends new treatment into spa package

Trisha Wischmann, owner and wholistic health practitioner at TLC Bed & Breakfast and Wellness Center, 203 S. Bellevue St. in Jackson, recently acquired a Bio Electric Field Enhancement unit. The treatment is designed to relieve pain and inflammation in the hips and legs.

A new spa wellness package has been developed and is currently being offered. This includes the foot bath, chair massage, stress-relieving techniques and an overnight stay at the spa's bed and breakfast. For those looking for a little less, the spa also offers a variety of options designed to relieve stress.

Southeast nursing administrators recognized

A statewide medical task force which included Southeast Missouri Hospital Patient Care directors Myrna Ward and Kathy Vickery and Emergency Services Director Linda Brown has won the 2nd Quarter Director's Award from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The goal of the Time Critical Diagnosis Task Force of more than 100 medical experts, leaders and emergency medical care providers was to improve health outcomes by establishing a TCD system for Missourians who suffer a stroke. Their recommendations led to legislation to implement a TCD system. The state Legislature ultimately passed the measure.

Saint Francis welcomes Heartland Spine, LLC

Saint Francis Medical Center is proud to announce the arrival of a new neurosurgical practice on the Medical Center campus. Heartland Spine, LLC will be located in the Saint Francis Healing Arts Center at 3250 Gordonville Road, Suite 450, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Franklin Hayward II, DO, board eligible neurosurgeon on staff at Saint Francis, heads this new practice and began seeing patients September 8. Dr. Hayward offers specialty neurosurgical care to patients at this new location. Patients also have convenient access to the complete continuum of care provided at the Medical Center.

To schedule an appointment at Heartland Spine, LLC, please call 573-331-5761.

Saint Francis adds 12 to Wall of Fame

Twelve individuals were recognized for outstanding achievements in their individual rehabilitation treatment programs and inducted to Saint Francis Medical Center's Rehabilitation "Wall of Fame." A ceremony was held Sept. 17 to honor these patients, their rehabilitation therapists, and the individuals and organizations making contributions in the lives of people with disabilities.

2008 "Wall of Fame" inductees include: Marie Askew, St. Louis, Mo.; Vanessa Braden, Benton, Ill.; Ervin Glueck, Chaffee, Mo.; Ed Hare, Bloomfield, Mo.; William Klump, Elkville, Ill.; Jerome Maclin, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Don Nanney, Marble Hill, Mo.; Paul Schrock, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Luella Smith, Wappapello, Mo.; Serle Thomas, Cairo, Ill.; Rhonda White, Sikeston, Mo.; and Theresa Wibbenmeyer, Old Appleton, Mo.

Saint Francis one of top 100 places to work in healthcare

Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau has been named among Modern Healthcare magazine's "100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare."

The periodical created the survey to recognize outstanding employers in the healthcare industry throughout the United States. The magazine collected information from employees and the employer and was open to all health care-related companies with 25 or more employees. Employers completed a survey detailing company policies, practices, benefits and demographics. Employees were asked questions in the following eight areas: leadership and planning, culture and communications, role satisfaction, working environment, relationship with supervisor, training and development, pay and benefits and overall satisfaction.

Dugas named to state board

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Michelle Dugas, director of In-Home Services for the Butler County Health Department, recently was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Missouri Council for In-Home Services. She is also a member of the Council's Standards Committee and Legislative Committee.

Dugas is a native of Poplar Bluff. She attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Ark., and worked previously for several years for Boycom Cablevision, Inc. in Poplar Bluff.

Ray completes certification test

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — The International Society of Clinical Densitometry announces Veronica Ray has successfully complted the Bone Density Certification exam. Individuals who have completed this certification curriculum and have demonstrated proficiency and excellence in the field of bone density are granted the title "Certified Bone Densitometry Technologist."

Ray has been employed witht Dr. Michael Caldwell's office for three years, and has been studying bone densitometry with the Osteoporosis Center at Northwest Medical Center for the last year. She lives in the Poplar Bluff area.

Parkland Health Center president retires, new president named

FARMINGTON, Mo. — Rick Conklin, president of Parkland Health Center, is retiring Sunday after 12 years in the position. Long-time administrator Tom Karl will succeed him.

Conklin has been with BJC HealthCare and its predecessor for 25 years, and will continue to work part-time as part of BJC's evidence-based design team. Prior to working for BJC HealthCare, Conklin worked for Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He and his wife, Donna, plan to continue living in the area.

Karl has served as Parkland's chief financial officer since 1985, and most recently as assistant administrator. He is a certified public accountant who began working in health care when he served as a respiratory therapy technician in high school and college.

Sikeston natives featured in magazine

SIKESTON, Mo. — The August issue of St. Louis Magazine features physicians and surgeons in the community selected as Best Doctors in America by Best Doctors Inc. Two Washington University physicians were from Sikeston — Rick Wright and Elizabeth Brunt. Brunt's husband, Mike Brunt, was also named on the list.

The peer-to-peer survey, as well as that of America's Top Doctors, is published yearly and is based on physicians' opinions of their colleagues' skills and abilities. Questionnaires from the company are mailed to thousands of doctors with the question "if you or a loved one needed a doctor in your specialty, to whom would you refer them?"

The thought is that doctors have an unique, inside perspective about who's at the top of their profession, who's up on the latest advances in their field, and, therefore, where they personally would turn for state-of-the-art care when faced with a serious medical problem.

Wormington to present at conference in Austria

Cheryl Wormington, a certified lactation consultant at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau since 2000, presented two abstracts on "Reaching for the 2010 Breastfeeding Goals in Rural Missouri: One Hospital's Journey," at the VELB (Verband Europäischer Laktationsberaterinnen) and International Lactation Consultant Association Oct. 1-3 in Vienna, Austria.

Nursing association recognizes Blevins

Kathy Blevins of Chaffee, Mo., was recognized at the 16th annual Scientific Assembly of the International Association of Forensic Nurses in Dallas as one of 104 sexual assault nurse examiners certified internationally in pediatrics.

The theme for the conference was "Forensic Nursing: Impacting Health and Justice Across The Lifespan." More than 80 sessions were available on such topics as human trafficking, the affects of domestic violence on families, victims with disabilities and forensic interviewing.

Blevins works as a forensic nurse examiner and forensic interviewer at the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence in Cape Girardeau.

Delta Medical awarded ACR accreditation

SIKESTON, Mo. — Missouri Delta Medical Center has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in Computerized Tomography as the result of a recent survey by the American College of Radiology.

The ACR awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of the practice. Evaluations are conducted by board certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess they qualifications of the personnel and the adequacy of facility equipment. The surveyors report their findings to the ACR's Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report.

Surgical services floor opens at Delta Medical

SIKESTON, Mo. — The new Surgical Services floor at Missouri Delta Medical Center opened Oct. 1, marking a change in the way services are offered to patients. It also marks the completion of the first of three phases to change the way services are offered throughout the hospital.

The multi-million dollar renovation, featuring all private rooms, puts together an area designed to provide complete services to individuals in the hospital for surgeries. The newly renovated floor also includes a central nurses station and a private room for doctors to consult with families. Each inpatient room includes a computer for staff to update the patient's status and access patient information.

All equipment is new, as well.

Local physician achieves board certification

The American Board of Family Medicine is pleased to announce the successful completion of its recertifcation examination by Dr. Christopher M. Compton.

Board certification covers a standard of excellence in knowledge and practice to physicians who not only certify via the examination process, but who also work diligently on the maintenance of these skills during the seven-year cycle between examinations.To achieve recertification by the ABFM, a family physician must verify the completion of 300 hours of acceptable continuing medical education over the past six years; possess a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States; and successfully complete a one-day, written examination of cognitive knowledge and problem-solving abilities.