Health briefs

LAHMANN IS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Barb Lahmann was employee of the month for January at the Golden Living Center, Bloomfield. She works in the dietary department.

OWEN IS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Olivia Owen was employee of the month for February at Advance Nursing Center. She has worked in the housekeeping department for six months.

SOUTHEAST PROMOTES RIGDON

Registered nurse Jan Rigdon was named executive director of Perioperative Services and the Cardiovascular Service Line at SoutheastHEALTH. In this position, Rigdon has a direct line reporting relationship with invasive cardiology, including cath lab and cath prep, non-invasive cardiology, the cardiac outreach director, heart failure/chest pain center and perioperative services, which include pre-surgical testing, anesthesia technicians, central sterile, perfusion and pre-anesthesia. She also has responsibility for the hospital's operating suites and recovery rooms.

DURHAM PROMOTED AT IRON COUNTY

PILOT KNOB, Mo. -- Bill Durham was promoted to plant services manager at Iron County Hospital. He has worked at the hospital since January 2010.

PARKLAND HEALTH HONORS EMPLOYEES

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Parkland Health Center recently announced its monthly Star Service Employees, according to the Park Hills Daily Journal. They include Sharon Rodebaugh, housekeeping, Star Service Employee for November; Michelle Gray, nurse for surgical services, December; Sara Trolinger, nurse for the emergency department, January; and Susan Warren, nurse for outpatient surgery, February.

DODSON JOINS GOLDEN LIVING

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Sherri Dodson of Dexter, Mo., joined Golden Living Center of Bloomfield as director of nursing services. She is responsible for supervising the nursing staff and resident care. Dodson has worked in nursing for more than 30 years and last worked at Butler County Health Department for 17 years.

OVERCAST GETS ADVANCED PROFICIENCY RATING

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Activator Methods International announced that Dr. Adam Overcast achieved an advanced proficiency rating in the Activator Method Chiropractic Technique for 2011. The achievement reflects Overcast's commitment of time and energy to complete Activator's continuing education program. The designation also places him in an elite class of chiropractic physicians trained in the world's No. 1 instrument adjusting technique. The rating is valid for one year, and Overcast must continue his training annually to maintain this status. Overcast has used the Activator Method for four years at Desired Health Chiropractic in Farmington.

SEABAUGH PARTNERS WITH SOUTHEAST

The practice of Dr. Janice L. Seabaugh has partnered with Southeast Medical Group. The practice, now called Southeast Ear, Nose & Throat, remains at its existing location, 274 S. Mount Auburn Road, Cape Girardeau. Seabaugh has been on Southeast Hospital's medical staff for 16 years, serving as chief of surgery for the past five years. She has operated her solo practice for 26 years.

PERRY COUNTY HOSPITAL REACHES GOLD LEVEL

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Perry County Memorial Hospital reached Gold Level Achievement in the American Red Cross' Champions for Life Program. Champions for Life, a health care initiative based on partnerships with hospitals, strives to increase blood donations at hospital-sponsored blood drives and provide recognition to hospital sponsors and their blood donors. Perry County Memorial Hospital collected 150 pints of blood through six blood drives in 2010. Julia Huelsmann, senior account manager for Missouri-Illinois Blood Services, presented the award on March 21 to Jessica Krauss from Perry County Memorial Hospital.

BOOTHEEL COUNSELING OPENS MEDICAL CLINIC

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Bootheel Counseling Services opened a Family Medical Clinic in January, offering care for acute and chronic illness, physical exams, weight loss management, diabetes care, foot exams, well-woman exams and family planning. Heading up the clinic is Lisa Kail, a family nurse practitioner. The clinic has two exam rooms and a lab created from existing space at the counseling center, 760 Plantation Blvd., Sikeston. Bootheel is looking at a 1,600-square-foot expansion. The center is certified as a Rural Health Clinic through the Missouri Department of Health.

HOSPITAL GETS ASTHMA CERTIFICATION

POTOSI, Mo. -- Washington County Memorial Hospital has been certified as an Asthma Ready Hospital, reported the Park Hills Daily Journal. Doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and others have been trained in providing the best care for patients with asthma. Ben Francisco, director of Asthma Ready Communities, presented the honor during a ceremony on March 28.

BENCHMARK HOLDS OPEN HOUSE

Benchmark Healthcare, 28601 U.S. 61, Scott City, held a grand reopening open house on March 31. Started by Clara Sells in 1938, Benchmark is now a third-generation family business offering assisted and independent living, skilled nursing, memory care, health and wellness, behavioral health, rehabilitation and palliative care.

MDMC TO OFFER NEW CANCER SCREENING

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Missouri Delta Medical Center is the first health care provider in the Sikeston, Mo., area to offer the Selenia Dimensions 2D full field digital mammography system from Hologic. With this technology, radiologists can magnify the images, increase or decrease the contrast and invert the black and white values while reading the images. These features allow radiologist to evaluate microcalcifications and focus on areas of concern. Digital mammography is revolutionizing mammography through its ability to yield high-quality images at lower radiation doses.

BLAND NAMED HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTOR

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Peggy Bland joined Farmington Presbyterian Manor as health services director.

PRESBYTERIAN MANOR NAMED TO NATIONAL LIST

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Farmington Presbyterian Manor is on the U.S. News and World Report Best Nursing Homes list for 2011, reported the Park Hills Daily Journal. The retirement community received the highest score of a five-star rating to make the list, available at www.usnews.com/nursinghomes. The U.S. News rankings use information from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which compile data from surveys conducted by state agencies. CMS assigns one to five stars to each community for how well it performs in health inspections, nurse staffing and level of care. Survey teams from the state conduct inspections in each community every 12 to 15 months. Surveys cover a checklist of about 180 items, including medication management, food preparation and delivery, paperwork and resident enrichment activities.

MANOR HONORS EMPLOYEES

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Nicky Starkey was employee of the month for February at The Manor, and Linda Pirtle was employee of the month for March.