Health briefs

__SOUTHEAST HOSPITAL OPENS NEW NICU__

Southeast Hospital moved into its new, family-centered Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on July 8. The eight-suite unit replaces an older facility. The new unit consists of single-family suites, creating private areas for families to bond with their babies. The well-baby nursery and family waiting room also were renovated as part of the project. The area is designed to keep noise levels to a minimum and has subdued lighting, as well as a neonatal monitoring system.

__PERRY COUNTY HOSPITAL EARNS ASTER AWARD__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Perry County Memorial Hospital received a 2014 bronze Aster Award for its community newsletter. The Aster Awards, hosted by Marketing Healthcare Today Magazine and Creative Images Inc., is a national competition in the health care advertising and marketing fields. All entries are judged by industry experts, scored, and compete against organizations of a similar size in their groups and categories.

__TWO DOCTORS JOIN NEPHROLOGY ASSOCIATES__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Dr. Frank Braxton of Nephrology Associates added two new doctors to the practice in July. Dr. Shuang Ying Bao is board certified in internal medicine and specializes in CKD management and kidney transplant management. She is also educated in hypertension management. Dr. Yveline Jean-Claude specializes in kidney disease and dialysis and CKD management.

__CALL, ESCHMANN AWARDED FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION__

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Janette L. Call, a hearing instrument specialist with Better Hearing Solutions in Perryville, received the Platinum Award for Outstanding Educational Achievement. The award was presented at the Missouri Hearing Society's Educational Conference in Blue Springs, Missouri. The society recognizes individuals who go beyond the basic continuing education requirements to provide superior service to patients. Call completed 46.5 hours of continuing education to receive the Platinum Award. Additionally, Elizabeth Eschmann, hearing instrument specialist at Miracle-Ear in Perryville, received the Gold Award for Outstanding Educational Achievement. She completed 32 hours to receive the award.

__FRANCIS JOINS SOUTHEAST PEDIATRICS__

Dr. Kali Francis has joined Southeast Pediatrics. She grew up near Gordonville and is the granddaughter of O.D. Niswonger, a longtime administrator of Southeast Hospital. She received her medical degree from the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine and completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences/Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

__SOUTHEAST HEALTH EARNS MARKETING HONORS__

Three SoutheastHEALTH marketing projects and publications received statewide recognition at the Show-Me Excellence Awards, according to a news release from the hospital. Southeast's marketing team won first-place awards for its "Great Race Pit Party" in the special marketing or public relations projects category and first place for its InforMed employee newsletter in the internal publications category. Healthier Look magazine received a third-place award in the external publications category. The Missouri Association for Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing presented the awards at its annual meeting in June at Osage Beach, Missouri.

__BEHREND-UHLS TO REPRESENT SEMO OB/GYNS NATIONALLY__

Dr. Ann E. Behrend-Uhls, obstetrician/gynecologist at Cape Care for Women, was selected to represent Southeast Missouri OB/GYNS in the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She was selected and approved at the Section Advisory Council meeting in June. As a new officer, Behrend-Uhls will be required to attend national meetings and legislative conferences to continuously innovate and update OB/GYN practices.

__ANDREWS NAMED ONE OF TOP CHIROPRACTORS__

Dr. Aaron Andrews, a chiropractic neurologist at Jackson Healing Arts, again was awarded recognition as one of America's top chiropractors by the Consumers Research Council of America. The selection process was based on postgraduate education, years in practice, affiliations with professional and local social associations, and peer and patient reviews. This is Andrews' fifth time receiving the award. Andrews also co-wrote and published his first book, "What You Don't Know Can Heal You: Revealing Secrets to the Most Overlooked Answer For a Healthier Life."

__SAINT FRANCIS ADDS INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGIST__

Saint Francis Medical Center added Dr. Steven J. Joggerst as a medical partner and interventional cardiologist at Cape Cardiology Group. He joins a team of seven expert cardiologists and will be part of Saint Francis' new Heart Valve Center. In cooperation with Cleveland Clinic, the Heart Valve Center offers the most advanced treatments for patients with heart valve disease. Joggerst, a St. Louis native, joins Cape Cardiology Group after serving as a chief fellow of cardiology at Texas Heart Institute/Baylor College of Medicine. He has clinical experience in transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

__DENTAL ARTS ADDS TWO HYGIENISTS__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Dental Arts Group at 2700 Kanell Blvd. in Poplar Bluff added two new registered dental hygienists: Rachel Aden and Stephanie Jennings.

__EFTINK NAMED FOUNDATION COORDINATOR__

Julie Eftink joined the SoutheastHEALTH Foundation as foundation coordinator. In her new role, she will be responsible for the general administration of foundation financial operations. She holds a bachelor's degree in agribusiness and animal science from Southeast Missouri State University. She previously worked for 10 years with Montgomery Bank, where she most recently served as executive administrative assistant to the board of directors.

__SAINT FRANCIS ADDS FAMILY PRACTICE PHYSICIAN__

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Saint Francis Medical Center welcomed Dr. Joseph B. Schuerger as a new family practice physician at Physicians Park Primary Care, a Saint Francis Medical Center Medical partner. He joins a team of six primary care physicians in Poplar Bluff.

__FREEMAN HONORED BY LEET EYECARE__

Kyla Freeman was named the July Leet EyeCare Above & Beyond Award Recipient. She is a front desk coordinator at Leet EyeCare's 3230 Blattner Drive location in Cape Girardeau. Freeman was nominated by her peers as an employee who goes above and beyond to exceed patients' expectations.

__SOUTHEAST NAMES SKEANS AS NEW CFO__

SoutheastHEALTH announced John L. Skeans joined the system as chief financial officer, effective July 28. He has three decades of experience in financial leadership in various health systems, according to a news release from Southeast. He specializes in building collaborative relationships with physicians, board members and other key constituents, the release said. Skeans previously served as interim CFO at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, and executive vice president and CFO at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis.

__NEW MEDICAL CLINIC TO OPEN IN MARBLE HILL__

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Suzanne Matthews, a nurse practitioner from Scopus, Missouri, plans to open a walk-in rural health clinic on Broadway in Marble Hill, the Banner-Press has reported. Matthews bought the chiropractic office building formerly owned by Dr. Beverly Peters. Matthews will be on site as nurse practitioner, under the direction of Dr. Robert Dan Bieser of Cape Girardeau. She has hired Natalie Fluchel to be her receptionist. Originally from Fruitland, Matthews also owns a wedding supply rental business in Gordonville and recently opened a business within that business: a bridal consignment shop called Bride to Bride.