Health briefs

SHERRILL NAMED DIRECTOR OF NURSING Jean Sherrill was named director of nursing at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. She has worked at the home for eight years in various capacities, including unit manager and staff development coordinator. She replaces Maria Hanschen, who retired after 20 years of service.

Corrie Dudley

DUDLEY JOINS ELITE WOMAN Corrie Dudley joined Dr. Michael J. Jessup at Elite Woman in Cape Girardeau as a full-time nurse practitioner. Dudley, a native of Chaffee, Mo., has nine years of experience in labor, delivery and maternal and child nursing. In her new role, Dudley will provide routine care associated with pregnancy, as well as other health management issues. She has a special interest in women's wellness, including cholesterol, hypertension, osteoporosis and bone density screening and management.

EVANS JOINS MEDSTOP Debbie Evans joined MedStop One Family Medical Practice in Cape Girardeau as a nurse practitioner.

ALLCOCK JOINS SOUTHEAST Dr. Darren M. Allcock joined Dr. Wu Wen at Southeast Endocrinology in Cape Girardeau. He is board certified in internal medicine and board eligible in endocrinology. He specializes in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism.

SAINT FRANCIS TO BUILD NEW OFFICE Saint Francis Medical Center is building an 8,300-square-foot addition to the Immediate Convenient Care facility at 1702 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. The building will be home to Cape Primary Care and will initially accommodate up to five physicians, said Emily Sikes, hospital spokeswoman. Cape Primary Care is currently at 3004 Gordonville Road. Boulder Construction was selected for the project, and completion is expected in March.

MINERAL AREA GETS NEW MONITORING DEVICE PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Mineral Area Regional Medical Center is the first health care facility in the state to use an innovative patient monitoring solution that allows obstetricians to keep a closer eye on labor and delivery patients than ever before, reported the Park Hills Daily Journal. AirStrip OB delivers vital patient waveform data -- including fetal heart rate and maternal contraction patterns -- in virtual real-time directly from the hospital labor and delivery unit to a doctor's smartphone. Additional patient data is also accessible, including nursing notes, vital signs and order results.

Christopher Reis

REIS JOINS BRAIN & NEUROSPINE CLINIC Dr. Christopher Reis joined the Brain & NeuroSpine Clinic of Missouri in Cape Girardeau as a pain management physician. He completed an interventional pain medicine fellowship, residency and internship at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill.

BAIN, DAHLBECK JOIN FERGUSON SIKESTON, Mo. -- Nephrologist Dr. Justin H. Bain joined the staff at Ferguson Medical Group. His areas of focus include hypertension, kidney stones, dialysis management and other kidney-related problems. Psychologist Dr. David T. Dahlbeck joined FMG Counseling Services, treating depression and anxiety, administering psychological testing, and more.

THREE PRESENT AT BOSTON CONFERENCE Three staff members from SoutheastHEALTH's Surgery Department spoke at the Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management National Conference held Aug. 8 to 10 in Boston. Jeanie Rhodes, materials management coordinator; Jennifer Deschenes, materials implant/inventory coordinator; and Nancy Mueller, materials manager, discussed strategies that resulted in a significant reduction in inventory in the Surgery Department over a six-month period.

PARKLAND WELCOMES THREE PHYSICIANS PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Drs. Phillip Kintner and Saima Ghazal, OB/GYN physicians, joined Parkland Health Center's Obstetrics Department. Dr. Karin Clauss, a pediatrician, also began practicing at Parkland in September.

PRESBYTERIAN PRESENTS SERVICE AWARDS PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Presbyterian Manor and Presbyterian Hospice presented its annual service awards Aug. 5. Those honored were Cheryl Ferguson, 20 years of service; Nenita Jamerson, 15 years; Brenda Davis, Samantha Creek, Sandy Bone, Kevin Nash and Vanessa Smith, 10 years; and Amy Smith, April Courtway, Sandi Brooks, Teresa Pinkley, Linda Wade, Amanda Eye, Natasha Finley, Marissa Weis, Scarlett Gray, Angie Nichols, Karie Hand, Tracy Griffin, Marty Clubb and Dr. Dwayne Damba, five years.

AIR EVAC NAMES NEW DIRECTOR SIKESTON, Mo. -- Lori Schaefer of Jackson is the new program director for the Air Evac Lifeteam air ambulance base in Sikeston. Schaefer, a registered nurse, will coordinate daily activities and schedules of all base personnel and administer the financial, marketing, growth and business aspects of the base. She began working for Air Evac Lifeteam in May 2004 as a flight nurse.

MOYERS JOINS VNA HOMECARE FARMINGTON, Mo. -- RN Deborah Moyers joined VNA-TIP HomeCare in Farmington.

ADAM JOINS CROSS TRAILS ADVANCE, Mo. -- Dr. Walter Adam is a new general practitioner at Cross Trails Medical Center in Advance, where he will be involved in pediatrics, geriatrics and gynecology. He has worked in private practice, the Army Reserve and a VA hospital in Salt Lake City.

NEW CHIROPRACTOR IN JACKSON Jeremiah Mosher joined Andrews Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center in Jackson. His interests and specialties include treatment of chronic injuries, athletic injuries, muscle re-education, nutrition and family wellness.

FITNESS PLUS RECOGNIZED Aquatics International magazine will honor the nation's top aquatics facilities this November in its 13th annual Best of Aquatics issue. Saint Francis Medical Center's Fitness Plus is among the 13 facilities recognized this year. Judges considered factors including programming, promotional materials, aquatic amenities and community involvement.

ACS CLOSES SIKESTON OFFICE SIKESTON, Mo. -- In an effort to cut costs and better serve its clients, the American Cancer Society closed its Sikeston office, the Standard Democrat reported Aug. 29. Support and resources are now available locally at Missouri Delta Medical Center's Cancer and Infusion Center, which has partnered with the ACS. The Cancer Resource Center at 1126 N. Main St. provides free wigs, turbans and other personal care items for cancer patients. The center's staff can also provide patients and their caregivers information on cancer and guidance to identify any resources needed, such as lodging and transportation assistance.

AUDIO EAR CELEBRATES OPENING Audio Ear Hearing Center, 65 Plaza Way in Cape Girardeau, celebrated its grand opening in September. Owner Darel Roberts has more than 25 years of experience in hearing aid sales and assembly. His daughter-in-law, Tammy Roberts, is the office manager.

Christa Tucker

TUCKER PROMOTED TO CFO NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Christa Tucker was promoted to chief financial officer at SEMO Health Network. She joined the organization in 1989 and has been the accounting manager for nine years.

Nan Thornton

THORNTON JOINS HEALTH NETWORK NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Nan Thornton, a certified diabetes educator and registered licensed dietitian, joined SEMO Health Network. She has more than 20 years of experience in health care and will work closely with the network's clinics in Bernie, Kennett, New Madrid, Portageville and Sikeston, Mo.