Health briefs

__COMMUNITY COUNSELING CENTER MARKS 40 YEARS__

Community Counseling Center - Southeast Regional Mental Health Services celebrated its 40th anniversary in June. At its celebration event, the center presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to Mary Ann Otto, Dr. John Hinni and Dale Rauh. Additionally, Judy Johnson was recognized for her 35 years of professional counseling and administrative duties at the center. Gene Speight, the center's governing board president, honored the governing board members and acknowledged the Cape Girardeau, Perry and Ste. Genevieve County Mental Health Board members.

__NENNINGER RECEIVES EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNANCE AWARD__

The Missouri Hospital Association presented a 2014 Excellence in Governance Award to Clyde Nenninger, chair of the Saint Francis Healthcare System Board of Directors, in recognition of his contribution to the health care community. Nenninger was one of six board members statewide honored during a June 12 presentation at MHA's annual leadership forum in Branson, Missouri. Nenninger has served on the Saint Francis Healthcare System Board of Directors for more than 25 years. He retired from RM COCO, where he was chief financial officer.

__MEDICAL GROUP HONORS NISKEY__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Dr. Jayne E. Niskey was recognized by the Missouri State Medical Association for her work in the Physicians Health Program. She was featured in the Physicians Lifeline newsletter for her work in Missouri with physicians who are on probation with the State Board of Healing Arts. She is the regional coordinator for Southeast Missouri and has served as a liaison for physicians to the Board of Healing Arts for 26 years. She performs individual, couples and group counseling to impaired and recovering physicians. In addition to her private practice in individual, children, marriage and family counseling, Niskey is board certified by the American College of Certified Forensic Counselors as a specialist in both criminal justice and addiction counseling.

__TWIN RIVERS RECEIVES GOLD CARD AWARD__

KENNETT, Mo. -- Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center received the Gold Card Award from Care Improvements Plus. The Gold Card Award was developed by CIP to reward providers with excellent audit results a 12-month audit-free time period from all Inpatient post-patient medical record review activity. The purpose of the program is to alleviate the administrative burden that providers and their staff may feel when fulfilling medical record requests. At the end of 12 months, a sample of claims are pulled and an audit is conducted to ensure the facility continues to exhibit the same or greater quality results. With those positive results, the facility will be auto-enrolled for an additional 12-month period.

__FOUR OAKS HOSPICE OPENS IN POPLAR BLUFF__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting June 24 for Four Oaks Hospice, 2725 N. Westwood Blvd. The business provides symptom management, pain control and support to patients and families facing a terminal illness.

__LAWRENCE EARNS HAND THERAPIST CREDENTIALS__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Lindsay Lawrence, an occupational therapist at Perry County Memorial Hospital, earned the certified hand therapist designation after completing all required examinations and clinical studies, according to a news release from the hospital. The credential provides the highest recognition of competency in the profession of upper limb rehabilitation. Certification requirements include at least five years of clinical experience as an occupational therapist, a minimum of 4,000 hours in direct practice in hand therapy and completion of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper limb rehabilitation. Approximately 5,400 individuals worldwide hold this designation.

__SAINT FRANCIS RECOGNIZED FOR PATIENT EXPERIENCE__

Saint Francis Medical Center was recognized with the 2014 Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award based on survey responses from its patients, according to a news release from the hospital. Saint Francis is one of only 10 hospitals in the state to receive the award. The report, "Patient Experience 2014: Identifying What Matters Most," explores the importance of patient experience in overall quality of care. Healthgrades awarded 447 hospitals in 2014, distinguished as the top 15 percent of hospitals nationally, based on patients' responses to the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey for visits occurring between April 2012 and March 2013.

__SAINT FRANCIS AWARDED FOR MARKETING EFFORTS__

Saint Francis Medical Center won 21 Show-Me Excellence awards for excellence in health care marketing from the Missouri Association for Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing - more than any hospital in the state. The medical center was awarded eight first-place, eight second-place and five third-place awards, according to a news release from the medical center. The awards recognize Missouri hospitals and health care systems' efforts to educate communities about health-related issues and services, and acknowledge quality advertising, marketing and public relations projects produced by those institutions, the release said. The association was formed in 1978 and is an affiliated organization of the Missouri Hospital Association and an affiliated chapter of the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development.

__DOHOGNE JOINS LEET EYECARE__

Dr. Jeremey Dohogne of Benton, Missouri, joined Leet EyeCare at its 3230 Blattner Drive and 856 N. Kingshighway locations in Cape Girardeau. Dohogne provides eye care for all ages, and he specializes in contact lenses and geriatrics. He also joined the Midwest Mobile EyeCare team of Leet EyeCare optometrists that serves Southeast Missouri nursing home residents.

__POPLAR BLUFF LIMB AND BRACE CUTS RIBBON__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting July 2 for Poplar Bluff Limb and Brace, 912 Ida St. The business carries medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and post-mastecomy products.

__UCAN MOVES TO NEW OFFICE__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The United Cancer Assistance Network moved to a new office in the former Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center building on North Westwood Boulevard, the Daily American Republic reported. The organization now has double the space it had at its 1419 Maud St. office. UCAN provides assistance for cancer patients in Wayne, Stoddard and Butler counties.