Health briefs

__EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS JOIN SAINT FRANCIS__

Saint Francis Medical Center added several physicians to its emergency team. The Saint Francis Emergency and Trauma Center now has the largest emergency team in Southeast Missouri and is the region's only state-designated Level III Trauma Center. The new physicians include __Dr. Chad Armstrong, Dr. Lauren Blackwelder,__ board certified in internal medicine and pediatrics; __Dr. Brendon Gelford;__ __Dr. Michael Killen,__ board certified in emergency medicine; __Dr. Ronald Leckie,__ also board certified in emergency medicine; __Dr. Ronald L. Robinson,__ specializing in urgent care and internal medicine and working from Immediate Convenient Care in Perryville, Mo.; and __Dr. Timothy Thomas,__ board certified in emergency medicine and whose professional interests include trauma, emergency medical services and ultrasound.

__MEINHARDT IS STAR SERVICE EMPLOYEE__

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- __Mike Meinhardt__ was Star Service Team Member for August at Parkland Health Center. Meinhardt, a maintenance mechanic in the facilities management department, has worked at Parkland for two years.

__ECHOLS IS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- __Connie Echols__ was employee of the month for July at Missouri Delta Medical Center.

Jenny Ison Stigers

__STIGERS INSTALLED AS BOARD PRESIDENT__

__Jenny Ison Stigers__ of Cape Girardeau was installed as president of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. The board certifies pediatric dentists who practice throughout the United States and internationally. Stigers is an associate professor at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry and currently serves as director of the West Kentucky Mobile Dental Program. She was elected as a director of the board in 2008 and is chairwoman of the examination committee.

__PARKLAND HEALTH ADDS TWO PHYSICIANS__

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- __Dr. Rachel Dickerson__ joined Parkland Health Center, specializing in internal medicine and pediatrics at the Medical Arts Clinic. Additionally, __Dr. Tony Limbil__ joined the center as a hospitalist.

Brenda Parkhurst

__PARKHURST NAMED DIRECTOR OF NURSING__

__Brenda Parkhurst__ of Frohna, Mo., was named director of nursing at Life Care Center of Cape Girardeau. A registered nurse for 18 years, Parkhurst has worked in long-term care for more than six years. She most recently served as a nurse manager for medical telemetry at SoutheastHEALTH, and she has experience in home health, podiatry, orthopedics and Alzheimer's care.

__BROADBAND GRANTS TO HELP RURAL HOSPITALS__

DEXTER, Mo. -- Eleven rural hospitals in Missouri will soon be able to provide improved telemedicine care for their patients, thanks to $262,000 in grants from the MoBroadbandNow initiative announced by Gov. Jay Nixon, according to a news release. The governor made the announcement at Missouri Southern Healthcare, one of the recipients of a Rural Hospital Broadband Connection grant. The hospital is receiving up to $25,000 to help increase broadband speed throughout its health care system and expand its connectivity with the clinics. The grants, which come from a federal grant to Missouri as part of its state broadband plan, will be distributed in seven installments between Dec. 1, 2012 and July 31, 2014. Other grant recipients include Advanced Healthcare Medical Center in Ellington; Carroll County Memorial Hospital in Carrollton; Cedar County Memorial Hospital in El Dorado Springs; John Fitzgibbon Memorial Hospital in Marshall; Madison Memorial Hospital in Fredericktown; Northwest Medical Center in Albany; Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems in Hayti; Sac-Osage Hospital in Osceola; Sullivan County Memorial Hospital in Milan; and Washington County Memorial Hospital in Potosi.

Dr. Ross Bennett

__BENNETT GETS LEADERSHIP AWARD__

__Dr. Ross Bennett__ of Bennett Family Dentistry in Cape Girardeau received the American Dental Association's 2011 National Golden Apple Award for New Dentist Legislative Leadership. The award was presented June 24 in Washington, D.C., by Dr. Matt Niewald of the ADA.

__CAPE HEALTH CENTER DIRECTOR RETIRING__

__Charlotte Craig,__ director of the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, retired Sept. 30 after 37 years working at the center, the Southeast Missourian reported. __Jane Wernsman,__ assistant director of the center, will step up to the director role. Wernsman is also a longtime employee of the county's public health service, with 23 years now on the books. Craig will keep working at the center about two days per week until the end of flu season.

Dr. Joseph C. Dwyer

__SAINT FRANCIS ADDS CARDIOLOGIST__

__Dr. Joseph C. Dwyer__ is a new medical partner and cardiologist at Cape Cardiology Group of Saint Francis Medical Center. In addition to his time at Cape Cardiology Group, Dwyer will also treat patients at outreach clinics. Dwyer, who is board certified in cardiology and nuclear cardiology, has more than 35 years of cardiology experience, with special interests in noninvasive cardiology and echocardiography.

__BLACK RIVER EARNS ACCREDITATION__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Black River Medical Center, which opened in June in Poplar Bluff, earned accreditation for all services by the Joint Commission, the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. The accreditation cycle, which is valid for up to 36 months, began Aug. 24. The three-bed hospital was created through a partnership between Poplar Bluff Medical Partners and Saint Francis Healthcare System.

Kevin Rush

__SOUTHEAST CANCER CENTER HAS NEW DIRECTOR__

__Kevin Rush__ has assumed duties as executive director of the Southeast Cancer Center. He succeeds __Judy Aslin,__ who became vice president and chief nursing officer in November 2011. Rush most recently was interim executive director of cancer services, laboratory and institutional review board and director of radiation oncology for Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital. His previous affiliations include service as chief radiation therapist at Cancer Centers of the Carolinas in Greenville, S.C., and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

__BENCHMARK HEALTHCARE BREAKS GROUND__

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Benchmark Healthcare broke ground Sept. 25 on a $10 million senior health care living and rehabilitation center on the corner of Colonel George E. Day Parkway and John Austin Avenue in Sikeston. According to the Sikeston Standard Democrat, the project will deliver 130 to 150 new jobs and will feature hospitality-type amenities, such as large flat-screen TVs and wireless Internet service, private suites, two dining areas and two separate courtyards with water features. The facility will offer more than 46,000 square feet of space.

__HOSPITAL LEADERS MEET WITH LEGISLATORS__

Representatives from Missouri's hospitals traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Missouri's congressional delegation. Hospital leaders representing the area included __Robert E. Garrison and Freddie A. Leroux__ of Ripley County Memorial Hospital in Doniphan, Mo.; and __Patrick E. Carron__ and __Timothy E. Brewer__ of Perry County Memorial Hospital in Perryville, Mo. Hospital leaders discussed the need for federal spending stability, payment-related administration and hospital and health care access in rural Missouri.

__GALATI INDUCTED INTO SURGEONS' GROUP__

__Dr. Vincenzo Galati__ of Cape Girardeau Urology Associates was inducted into the American College of Surgeons Oct. 1 at the American College of Surgeons Annual Clinical Congress in Chicago.