BusinessMay 17, 2010
Health briefs
A collection of short bits of area health news from Business Today magazine's June issue.
WRIGHT WINS ANGEL AWARD
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Tom Wright of Quality Choice Hearing Aid Center Inc. was recognized by Starkey Corporation's Hearing Foundation with its Angel Award. The award is given to hearing professionals who participate in Starkey's Hear Now program by doing testing, fitting and follow-up visits free of charge to patients who received aids donated by Starkey.
HEALTH DEPartment HONORS SMITH
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Butler County Health Department named Deborah Smith, advanced personal care attendant and homemaker, as Homemaker of the Month for April.
P.B. CARDIO PROGRAM ABOVE AVERAGE
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Society of Thoracic Surgeons released data from June 2007 through April 2009 relating to operative mortality rates of cardiovascular programs in more than 780 hospitals nationwide. Results show that patients who have had coronary bypass surgery at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center have better outcomes compared to national averages, including a zero percent operative mortality rate. Other complications after surgery, including postoperative infections, neurologic complications, renal failure and atrial fibrillation, were also lower than national averages. Dr. Stanley Ziomek, cardiothoracic surgeon at the hospital, cited three reasons for the excellent outcomes: the interval from patient's arrival to inflation of the balloon catheter in the patient's blocked artery is shorter than the national goal of 90 minutes; the intensive and progressive care nursing units are specially trained and experienced in caring for patients after heart surgery; and study results show that beating heart surgery was performed 67 percent of the time at PBRMC, compared to only 21 percent nationally.
MCPHERSON OPENS NEW CLINIC
KENNETT, Mo. -- Dr. Timothy McPherson, DO, has opened his third clinic in the region. McPherson Medical and Diagnostic Clinic, 901 W. Commercial, Kennett, features modern, high-tech diagnostic equipment, digital X-rays, computerized patient records and two sleep studies labs. McPherson has been in family practice since 1985 and also has clinics in Steele and Gideon, Mo. Also on staff at the Kennett clinic are Dr. Mona Tomescu, Dr. Dennis Daniels, and Elizabeth Watson, family nurse practitioner.
PODIATRISTS JOIN DEXTER HOSPITAL
DEXTER, Mo. -- Dr. Clint Vanlandingham and Dr. Jeff Baller, both board certified podiatrists, joined the visiting staff at Missouri Southern Healthcare, working Wednesdays at Doctors Park.
SOUTHEAST RANKS HIGHLY FOR PATIENT SAFETY
For the second consecutive year, Southeast Missouri Hospital ranks in the top 5 percent of hospitals in the nation for patient safety. The hospital is one of 26 nationwide and the only one in the four-state region of Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Arkansas to receive both the Patient Safety Excellence Award and the Outstanding Patient Experience Award from HealthGrades for the past two years. Medicare patients at hospitals receiving the Patient Safety Excellence Award were, on average, 43 percent less likely to experience a patient safety event. The HealthGrades Patient Safety in American Hospitals study analyzed nearly 40 million hospitalization records from approximately 5,000 hospitals nationwide that participate in the Medicare program. The study applies methodology developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to identify incidence rates of 15 patient safety indicators among Medicare patients.
FOUNDATION AWARDS GRANTS TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
ST. LOUIS -- Four lower east central Missouri not-for-profits received a total of $362,800 in grants from the Missouri Foundation for Health. The local grants are part of a nearly $5.8 million round of funding approved by MFH's board in March 2010. All four area grants come through MFH's Basic Support program, which funds operational expenses for health-related nonprofits' existing salaries and benefits, equipment and supplies. Area organizations receiving Basic Support grants are Gibson Recovery, Cape Girardeau, $75,000; Parkland Pregnancy Resource Center, Park Hills, $62,800; Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health, Park Hills, $150,000; and Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence, Cape Girardeau, $75,000.
NURSING FACILITY RECEIVES TOP AWARD
FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Southbrook Skilled Nursing by Americare received the company's Philosophy Award at Americare's annual meeting in San Antonio. Southbrook was chosen from Americare's 21 skilled nursing facilities to receive the award based on exemplary quality in all four areas of the company's philosophy: service to residents, employees and the community, and fiscal responsibility. It is the second consecutive year that Southbrook has won the company's top award. Southbrook was evaluated using criteria including state survey results and resident/family survey results. The Philosophy Award is given each spring and reflects a facility's performance in the past 12 months. As the winner, Southbrook will display the Americare Cup in its lobby for another year.
MDMC PLANS NEW CLINIC
CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Missouri Delta Medical Center's new clinic in Charleston will house outpatient physical therapy along with a fitness and wellness center for the residents of Mississippi County. The fitness and wellness center will be open to the public for fitness use and will include comprehensive wellness programs such as weight loss and management programs, health screenings, arthritis classes and more.
HOSPITAL MANAGERS COMPLETE LEADERSHIP SERIES
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Fifty-two hospital managers graduated from the Missouri Hospital Association Center for Education's Health Care Leadership Series on April 9. The seven-month program, which provides leadership training to enhance hospital staffs' managerial skills, includes sessions on building and retaining customer relationships, producing a high-performance workforce, designing and revising processes to ensure quality performance, and understanding hospital budgets and finances. Local graduates include Renee Grass, Bernie Grieshaber, Hirshell Parker and Julie Terry, all of Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital.
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PARKLAND HEALTH HONORS EMPLOYEES
FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Parkland Health Center recently announced Cathy Buchanan, clerk typist for the radiology team, as Star Service Employee for March and Betsey Chandler, RN and clinical nurse educator, as Star Service Employee for April.
KIEPE JOINS HOSPICE TEAM
FARMINGTON, Mo. Rev. -- Melinda Jean Kiepe, hospice chaplain, joined TIP Hospice's Farmington branch.
HOSPITALISTS EARN NATIONAL RECOGNITION
The Society of Hospital Medicine named Southeast Missouri Hospital adult and critical care hospitalists Ismeth S. Abbas, MD, FHM, FACP; Mark D. Dalton, DO, FHM; and Dale H. Foster, MD, as Fellows in Hospital Medicine. The designation demonstrates their commitment to hospital medicine, as well as teamwork, quality improvement and leadership. The Society of Hospital Medicine is the premier medical society representing hospitalists, the fastest-growing medical specialty. Southeast currently employs 10 physicians and two nurse practitioners in its hospitalist program.
MEDICAL SUPPLIER OPENS IN CAPE
SEMO Medical Equipment opened at 1417 N. Mount Auburn Road, Suite B, Cape Girardeau. It offers home medical equipment and hospital supplies.
COOPER RECEIVES SPIRIT AWARD
Rosie Cooper, a secretary in Southeast Missouri Hospital's Educational Services Department, is the latest recipient of the O.D. Niswonger Spirit of Southeast Award. The award was presented by Debbie Linnes, president and CEO of Southeast, at a ceremony on April 14. Cooper has worked at the hospital for 12 years. Nominations on her behalf cited her compassionate nature, team attitude and attention to even the smallest detail.
SOUTHEAST HONORS DOCTOR, CEO
Retiring obstetrician/gynecologist Dr. Scot G. Pringle and James W. Wente, who previously served as Southeast Missouri Hospital's president and CEO, were recognized for their service at the hospital association's annual dinner meeting April 22. Pringle, who has been on the Southeast staff for 29 years, received the Hospital's Special Service Award. Wente received the Outstanding Service Award in recognition of his leadership. Also that evening, the hospital received the Patient Safety Excellence Award and the Outstanding Patient Experience Award from HealthGrades, the nation's leading independent health care ratings organization. The hospital association welcomed new trustee Steve Green to its board, and a plaque was presented to Jim Limbaugh, executive vice president of planning and business development, in recognition of his service as hospital board chairman from April through September 2009 before accepting his current position. Dr. Gregg Hallman was honored as immediate past president of the medical staff organization. New officers of the medical staff are Dr. Kevin A. Vaught, president; Dr. W. Ray Silliman, president-elect; and Dr. D. Matt Shoemaker, secretary.
CARTER'S CLUBHOUSE WINS STATE AWARD
PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Carter's Clubhouse, a program that helps children and teens deal with their grief, is the winner of the Missouri Hospice & Palliative Care Association's Heart of Hospice Program Award. Carter's Clubhouse was created in 2008 by HospiceCare Inc., a not-for-profit hospice organization in Park Hills. The Heart of Hospice Award recognizes a MHPCA member program that has developed an added service to a designated population or enhanced community outreach to improve the quality of life for those in the hospice service area. Gayla Roberts, Carter's Clubhouse program director, and Fred McDaniel, executive director of HospiceCare Inc., accepted the award at an April 7 luncheon in Jefferson City, Mo.
STRODER NOMINATED FOR ALUMNI EXCELLENCE AWARD
Susan Stroder of Jackson was nominated for the MU Nursing Alumni Organization's Master's Student Award for Overall Excellence from the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing. The award recognizes potential for clinical proficiency, academic excellence and professional commitment. Stroder has worked as a registered nurse for more than 32 years, currently serving in the obstetrical unit at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She has continued her nursing education by earning various certifications and her bachelor of science in nursing from the MU Sinclair School of Nursing in 2006. She will graduate in May with a master's degree in nursing education.
NURSING HOME IMPROVES IN GOVERNMENT RANKINGS
FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- Staff members at Madison Medical Center's Stockhoff Memorial Nursing Home received word from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services that no deficiencies were found in the most recent survey of the facility. State officials inspect all nursing homes participating in Medicare or Medicaid at least once a year for standards including nutrition, pressure-ulcer prevention and fire safety. In an effort to improve the quality of care at their facility, Stockhoff staff members have been working with Primaris, the federally appointed quality improvement organization for Missouri.
HILLCREST EARNS STATE CERTIFICATION
HillCrest Pointe, a private behavioral health and substance abuse treatment facility in Cape Girardeau, earned state certification by the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Certification demonstrates that HillCrest meets or exceeds the compliance requirements by the State of Missouri for Core Rules for Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Programs, the Certification Standards for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs and General Program Procedures.
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