Health briefs

POPLAR BLUFF HOSPITAL OPENS WOUND CENTER

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center’s Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center is now open at the hospital’s Oak Grove campus. The clinic has three hyperbaric chambers and six treatment rooms.

HOSPITAL CEO ACCEPTS NEW JOB, REPLACEMENT NAMED

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Ken James announced his resignation as CEO at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, effective March 31, the Daily American Republic reported. After three years in the role, James accepted a position at Tennova Healthcare — Harton, a hospital in his hometown of Tullahoma, Tennessee. Larry Rodgers was appointed the new CEO of the medical center, effective April 11. He most recently served as CEO of the 167-bed College Station Medical Center in College Station, Texas. He has more than 10 years of hospital administration experience, previously working as CEO of Scenic Mountain Medical Center in Big Spring, Texas. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, and a master’s degree in business administration from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri.

ESSNER JOINS AUDIOLOGY CENTER

Brown and Willen Audiology Center of Cape Girardeau announced a new doctor of audiology on its staff: Dr. Trent Essner. He graduated from Notre Dame Regional High School and Southeast Missouri State University before pursuing his doctoral studies at Ball State University. He joins Brown and Willen Audiology Center with experience in hospital and clinical settings.

VNA OPENS NEW CORPORATE OFFICE

KENNETT, Mo. — A grand opening and ribbon cutting were held April 12 for the Visiting Nurse Association’s new corporate office at 1124 Independence in Kennett, according to a news release. The VNA service area covers 11 counties in Southeast Missouri, including Cape Girardeau and Butler counties and the entire Bootheel.

ASSISTED-LIVING FACILITY BEING BUILT IN JACKSON

Villas of Jackson is a new 58-bed assisted-living facility being built in Jackson by Villas of Jackson LLC. The first phase of the project, a state-of-the-art building that will offer studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units with 24-hour staffing, is expected to be finished and available in late fall. Janice Unger, a spokeswoman for the project, said future phases will include building duplex residences with services available. According to Unger, this is will be the first assisted-living facility in Jackson.

LOPEZ HIRED AS BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER

FARMINGTON, Mo. — Preferred Hospice hired Vicki Lopez as business office manager. Preferred Hospice of Farmington serves patients in Jefferson, Washington, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Perry, Madison, Iron, Wayne and Reynolds counties.

BOOTHEEL COUNSELING HONORS EMPLOYEES

SIKESTON, Mo. — Laurie Hutcheson was employee of the month for January at Bootheel Counseling Services & Family Medical Clinic. She has been with the agency for five years as a community support professional. Additionally, Angie Wheelehon was employee of the month for February. She is a clinical therapist and has worked at Bootheel for more than a year.

SWOPE JOINS STE. GENEVIEVE HOSPITAL

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. — Dr. Susan Swope joined Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital as an internal medicine physician providing care at the Bloomsdale Family Health Care. She earned her medical degree from Saint Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis and completed her residency at St. John’s Medical Center in St. Louis, according to a news release. She had been in private practice in Fenton, Missouri, since 2001.

BLACK RIVER CUTS RIBBON ON EXPANSION

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting March 25 to mark the expansion of Black River Medical Center, 217 Physicians Park in Poplar Bluff. The medical center has added five hospital beds and two emergency room beds and expanded the registration and waiting area.

PARKLAND GETS STROKE CENTER RECOGNITIONS

FARMINGTON, Mo. — Parkland Health Center announced in a news release that it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. The Gold Seal of Approval and the Heart-Check mark represent symbols of quality from their respective organizations. Parkland Health Center underwent a rigorous on-site review on Oct. 16 in which Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, including program management, the delivery of clinical care and performance improvement.

SAINT FRANCIS ADDS VASCULAR SURGEON

Saint Francis Healthcare System added vascular surgeon Dr. Joseph F. Mayo Jr. as a medical partner. He joins fellow surgeons Dr. Edward M. Bender, Dr. Bruce A. Jones and Dr. Colleen Moore at Cape Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery. Mayo earned his medical degree from Tulane Medical School in New Orleans. He later fulfilled his surgical internship and residency from Naval Hospital Oakland (Oak Knoll Naval Hospital) in Oakland, California, and completed his vascular fellowship at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Mayo has significant experience in private practice, as well as years served as a physician in the Navy. His clinical interests include stroke prevention, the treatment of cerebrovascular disease and complex, lower extremity revascularization.

BERRY NAMED MANAGER OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY

Saint Francis Healthcare System appointed Tina Berry as manager of Radiation Oncology in Cape Girardeau and Sikeston, Missouri. In this role, Berry will be responsible for planning, coordinating and supervising all functions within the two Radiation Oncology practices to ensure services are provided in accordance with the policies, procedures, philosophy, mission, values and strategic initiatives of Saint Francis, according to a news release. Berry joined Saint Francis in March. She previously worked as a supervisor at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

CAPE NEUROSURGICAL ASSOCIATES JOINS SAINT FRANCIS

Saint Francis Healthcare System added Cape Neurosurgical Associates as a new specialty practice to Saint Francis Medical Partners, along with neurosurgeons Dr. Joel W. Ray and Dr. David G. Yingling. Cape Neurosurgical Associates provides patients with expert diagnosis and a full spectrum of surgical interventions for complicated disorders of the brain, spine and nerves, according to a news release. Ray and Yingling have extensive training and years of combined experience — performing thousands of procedures, from artificial lumbar and cervical disk implants to spinal fusions, SI joint fusions and brain tumors. This practice joins fellow neurosurgical Medical Partners practice Cape Spine & Neurosurgery and its physicians Dr. Kaywan (Kev) Gamadia and Dr. Brandon J. Scott.

FERRERI JOINS PIEDMONT PRACTICE

PIEDMONT, Mo. — Saint Francis Healthcare System added Dr. Samuel W. Ferreri to Piedmont Physician Associates. Ferreri previously treated patients at Convenient Care in Saint Francis Medical Center’s Emergency Department. He has worked in family medicine for more than 20 years and now joins family practice physicians Dr. David R. Gayle and Dr. Andrew Gayle in providing care for patients in and around the Piedmont area.