Health briefs

CORLEW NAMED CFO AT MISSOURI SOUTHERN

DEXTER, Mo. -- Vickie Corlew was named chief financial officer at Missouri Southern Healthcare on June 2. Corlew, a Dexter native, has served as controller at the hospital for 20 years. In her new position, she will focus on everyday financial operation of the hospital, accounting and the investment activities of the organization. She is responsible for managing financial risks of the corporation, conducting financial planning and record-keeping and financial reporting to the SunLink Health Systems group.

Erin Pfeifer

TWO JOIN HR TEAM AT SOUTHEAST

Danielle Alspaugh

Danielle Alspaugh and Erin Pfeifer joined the human resources team at SoutheastHEALTH. Alspaugh, the health system's senior recruiting specialist, previously worked as associate director of admissions at Southeast Missouri State University. Pfeifer, SoutheastHEALTH's human resources manager, has more than 12 years of experience in the HR field. She last worked at the Spartech Corporation as a segment human resource manager. In her new position, Pfeifer is responsible for employee relations, team building, supervisory training, employee development and coaching.

CHAPMAN BUYS FARMINGTON DENTAL PRACTICE

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Dr. Bryan Chapman purchased the Farmington dental practice of Dr. Douglas K. Ross on May 31. Chapman joined Ross' staff in July 2010 and served as associate dentist while Ross recovered from a medical condition. Ross has now retired after 46 years in dentistry.

VA HONORS NURSES

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Department of Veterans Affairs and John J. Pershing VA Medical Center celebrated National Nurses Week May 6-12 by honoring nurses at the Poplar Bluff hospital and its community-based outpatient clinics, according to the Daily American Republic. Excellence in Nursing Awards went to Dena Toombs, Kimberly Gum, Peggy Kennedy and Elisabeth Johnson. Rhonda Acre, assistant facilitator for primary care, received a Golden Heart Award. Nurses recognized for achieving additional degrees or certifications this year were Linda Parks, Kelly Moore, Ginger Potts, Brad Davis, Lisa Kaiser, Joanne Miller, Phyllis Hardin and Doris Hays, gerontology certification; and Dena Toombs, mentor certification.

LEROUX NAMED PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- The Missouri Academy of Family Physicians presented Dr. Gene H. Leroux with the 2011 Family Physician of the Year Award June 4 at its annual scientific assembly in Lake Ozark. Leroux was chosen by a committee of family physicians from nominations made by patients, community members and fellow physicians. He has a family practice in Doniphan and also serves as medical director of the Ripley County Public Health Center.

MILLER GETS LEADERSHIP AWARD

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Marilyn Miller, administrator of Camelot Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, received the 2011 American College of Health Care Administrators' Facility Leadership Award. The announcement came May 2 during CHCA's annual convocation and exposition in New Orleans. Miller was one of 37 recipients nationwide to receive the Facility Leadership Award, which recognizes nursing home administrators who have met superior health care standards. Miller has been administrator at Camelot since 2002.

PARKLAND HEALTH GETS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Parkland Health Center, part of BJC HealthCare, received two 5-Star Excellence Awards by Professional Research Consultants Inc. as part of its 2011 National Excellence in Healthcare Awards. Parkland, with facilities in Farmington and Bonne Terre, Mo., scored in the top 10 percent nationally for excellent responses in inpatient services overall quality of care, and also in the top 10 percent for excellent responses in inpatient OB/GYN services overall quality of care. PRC, based in Omaha, Neb., annually recognizes health care facilities, providers, outpatient service lines and inpatient units for outstanding quality based on the percentage of patients who rate the facility excellent for overall quality of care.

SOUTHEAST HONORED BY HEART ASSOCIATION

SoutheastHEALTH was named an American Heart Association Gold Start! Fit-Friendly Company, one of only 123 employers in the Midwest to receive the recognition. The AHA recognized SoutheastHEALTH in part for its employee wellness program rewards and incentives, employee walking program, free annual physical exams for all employees and the availability of healthy food choices in the hospital's vending machines and cafeteria.

SEYER JOINS RUOPP & RUOPP

Dr. Nathan Seyer, Oran, Mo., joined Ruopp & Ruopp Dentistry, Cape Girardeau, as an associate dentist.

PARKLAND HONORS EMPLOYEES

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Jaime Jaycox was Star Service Employee of the Month for May at Parkland Health Center. She has worked at Parkland for five years and currently serves as a receptionist for patient access in the Emergency Department. Dee Dee White was Star Service Employee of the Month for June. She has worked as a cashier in the Dietary Department for 15 years.

CHIN JOINS CARDIOLOGY CONSULTANTS

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- BJC Medical Group of Missouri welcomed Dr. Mark Chin to Parkland Cardiology Consultants on July 1. Chin is board certified in noninvasive cardiology.

HEART AND CANCER INSTITUTE TO OPEN EARLY

Saint Francis Medical Center's $84 million Heart Hospital and Cancer Institute will open July 5 ahead of schedule and under budget, hospital president and CEO Steven Bjelich told the Southeast Missourian. The 208,000-square-foot facility, connected to the existing hospital, will help meet increasing demand in those areas created by aging baby boomers and federal health care reform giving more people access to health insurance, Bjelich said. Kiefner Brothers Construction Co., Cape Girardeau, served as general contractor on the project. Seventy positions were added to staff the new facility, and more than 200 of the hospital's existing staff will relocate to the Heart Hospital and Cancer Institute.

BLOYD TO HEAD JACKSON MANOR

Andrea Bloyd replaced Dave Walker as administrator of Jackson Manor. Walker accepted a position with the University of Missouri assisting nursing home administrators throughout the state.

ANDREWS JOINS VNA-TIP

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Rochelle Andrews joined VNA-TIP HomeCare's Farmington branch of Occupational Therapist Registered.

VNA-TIP ADDS VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Claire Wroblewski joined VNA-TIP Hospice as volunteer coordinator at the Farmington branch. In her new role, she will organize volunteers for hospice patients; arrange respite care to the primary caregiver; and help volunteers in the office with mailings or special events.

DECOURSEY JOINS SOUTHEAST PRIMARY

Dr. Kenneth A. Decoursey joined Southeast Primary Care, Cape Girardeau. He is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice Medicine.

BELL JOINS KAELIN DENTAL

Dr. Cody W. Bell joined Kaelin Dental Group, Cape Girardeau.

PANDIAN IS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

KENNETT, Mo. -- Vanessa Pandian, occupational therapist and assistant rehabilitation coordinator at NHC of Kennett, was partner of the month for May. She has worked at the center since 2009.

NURSE GROUP OPENS TWO SITES

Midwest Family Care, a nurse practitioner group, opened at two Southeast Missouri locations on July 11. The facilities, staffed by nurse practitioners Deborah Seeger, Kathy Arnzen and Bernita Bell, are at 36 Doctors Park, Cape Girardeau, and 2387 W. Jackson Blvd., Jackson. The clinics provide care for patients of all ages and accept all major insurances.

Sara Meyer

MEYER JOINS CAPE CARE FOR WOMEN

Dr. Sara A. Meyer joined the staff at Cape Care for Women. Meyer, a Ste. Genevieve, Mo., native, has specific medical interests in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, colposcopy and cervical pathology, and complicated obstetrics.

DIVECHA GETS MD ANDERSON CREDENTIALS

Veena Divecha

Dr. Veena D. Divecha, radiation oncologist at Cape Radiation Oncology, was credentialed by MD Anderson Physicians Network through Saint Francis Medical Center. This provides her access to evidence-based treatment protocols and processes developed by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the nation's leader in cancer care. Divecha joins 23 other physicians already credentialed at Saint Francis.

OAKDALE HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for the newly expanded residential care facility at Oakdale.