Health briefs

__EYECARE OFFICE OPENS IN FARMINGTON__

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Dr. Megan Pinkston began work Dec. 5 at the new Clarkson Eyecare office in Farmington, reported the Park Hills Daily Journal. The office is at 537 W. Karsch Blvd.

__COSTIE TRANSFERRED TO OHIO__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Glenn Costie, director of the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, was asked by Eric Shinseki, secretary of Veterans Affairs, to serve as director of the Dayton VA Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio, reported the Daily American Republic. Dec. 15 was Costie's last day at the Poplar Bluff facility. He came to Poplar Bluff in September 2009 after serving as chief operating officer at the Baltimore VA Medical Center in Baltimore. Stan Skorniak, associate medical center director, will serve as interim director. Costie said it could take three to six months for a new director to be named.

__TOMPKINS RECEIVES HONOR__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Donna Tompkins was homemaker of the month for December at the Butler County Health Department. She has worked for the department's in-home services since 2010.

__ZAKROFF JOINS JACKSON PRIMARY CARE__

Saint Francis Medical Center added Dr. Sandra Zakroff as a new medical partner and member of Jackson Primary Care. She is a board certified family medicine physician.

__JAMES NAMED CEO AT TWIN RIVERS__

KENNETT, Mo. -- Ken James is the new CEO of Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center, effective Dec. 15, reported the Daily Dunklin Democrat. James has worked at the hospital since March 2010 as chief operating officer. He previously served as director of medical imaging at Harton Regional Medical Center in Tullahoma, Tenn., and has been associated with St. Vincent's Ascension Health in Jacksonville, Fla., Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Fla., and Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.

__SOUTHEAST CANCER PROGRAM ACCREDITED__

The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer awarded three-year approval with commendation to SoutheastHEALTH's cancer program. Southeast met or exceeded 36 Commission on Cancer standards. Approval is given only to facilities that have committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. Cancer Committee chairman at SoutheastHEALTH's Cancer Center is Dr. Joseph P. Miller. Cancer liaison physician to the American College of Surgeons is Dr. James C. Mosley.

__IRON COUNTY HOSPITAL PARTNERS WITH CAPE RADIOLOGY__

PILOT KNOB, Mo. -- Iron County Hospital has partnered with Cape Radiology of Cape Girardeau, reported the Park Hills Daily Journal. Cape Radiology Group includes about 30 radiologists who have been providing diagnostic services throughout Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois for more than 50 years. Dr. Raymond A. Murphy will be at Iron County Hospital every Tuesday from 8 a.m. to noon to perform diagnostic mammography and other radiological readings.

Saint Francis Medical Center IT department earns honors (Submitted photo)

__IT DEPARTMENT EARNS TOP HONORS__

Staff in Saint Francis Medical Center's information technology department have one of the best employers in the nation, according to Healthcare IT News. Saint Francis earned the top honor for medium-sized hospitals and was profiled in the publication's first-ever "Where to Work: Best Hospital IT Departments" report released Nov. 28. The four-month award process began with 179 nominations and included an employee survey and data analysis. To qualify, half of a department's staff had to complete the survey, which asked employees to grade their departments in seven categories: day-to-day work, IT team, management, hospital leadership, workplace culture, training and development and compensation. Departments that scored highest in the areas that mattered most to employees were the top finishers. Saint Francis was rated against 27 other medium category hospitals.

__SULLIVAN JOINS CHARLESTON CLINIC__

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Dr. Rebecca K. Sullivan joined Charleston Chiropractic as a chiropractic physician.