Medical news

Medical Society installs officers

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — The Quad County Medical Society of Butler, Carter, Ripley and Wayne Counties has installed Milton Eichmann, M.D., president; Shaun Ross, M.D., vice president; Alejandro Mendez-Castiollo, M.D., secretary; and Kirby L. Turner, M.D., treasurer, as officers for 2009. Charles Lawson, M.D., is outgoing president.

Debbie Reagan is the executive secretary/liaison person for the Medical Society. The central office has been provided by the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center's administration. Reach Reagan in the Danny Bell Cancer Treatment Center or at (573) 727-2628 or (573) 686-5381.

Aponte receives board certification

DEXTER, Mo. — The American Board of Physician Specialties, the official certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc., has announced that Tony Aponte, M.D. successfully completed all of the requirements for Certification in Family Practice through the Board of Certification in Family Practice, an AAPS/ABPS affiliated Board of Certification.

In order to attain specialty certification, licensed physicians must meet the rigorous requirements of the appropriate certification board and the AAPS/ABPS. Eligibility requirements include advanced training, significant experience, good moral character and successful completion of a specialty written exam. The AAPS/ABPS affiliated Boards of Certification include certain requirements which assure the public that physicians obtaining certification have met high standards of knowledge and expertise in their specialty.

Aponte is located at MSH Family Medical Care, 115 East Business Highway 60 in Dexter. The phone number is (573) 624-7575.

Compounding department attends international seminar

FARMINGTON, Mo. — Community pharmacists David and Susan Holman, along with Nicole Bennett and Amanda Hutchings of Medi-Care Plus Pharmacy in Farmington, attended Professional Compounding Centers of America's International Seminar Oct. 23-25 in Sugar Land, Texas.

Compounding pharmacists, personnel and practitioners from throughout the United States, Canada and Australia attended the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education-accredited seminar, which featured the latest innovations in pharmacy compounding, which is the method of custom preparing medications to meet physicians' and patients' unique needs. Medi-Care Plus' staff regularly attends PCCA's seminars and training courses, networking with colleagues and obtaining continuing training and education in the art and science of pharmaceutical compounding.

Pedigo joins Missouri Southern Healthcare

DEXTER, Mo. — Missouri Southern Healthcare announces the addition of Judy Pedigo, F.N.P., as certified diabetes educator to MSH Family Medical Care. She is now seeng patients at the 115 E. Business 60 location in Dexter. To schedule an appointment, call (573) 624-7575. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Saint Francis Auxiliary receives honors for community service

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Four hospital auxiliaries have been honored by the Missouri Association of Hospital Auxiliaries for their volunteer services to the health care community.

Recipients of the 2008 Auxiliary of the Year awards include St. John's Hospital-Aurora, Audrain Medical Center, Saint Francis Medical Center and St. John's Hospital. They were recognized for outstanding service between June 1, 2007, and May 31, 2008. Awards were presented Nov. 6 at a luncheon during the Missouri Hospital Association's 86th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Osage Beach, Mo.

The Saint Francis Medical Center Auxiliary in Cape Girardeau earned honors for its volunteer services as an auxiliary with 151-300 members. From June 2007 through May 2008, 269 auxiliary members volunteered 61,090 hours and contributed $167,400 to hospital and scholarship programs.

Saint Francis auxilians volunteer time in 61 hospital in-service programs and support the hospital through fundraising projects and community outreach. Additionally, they participated in numerous activities to increase breast cancer awareness in support of the statewide MAHA initiative. The auxiliary helps fund mammograms through the Dig for Life fund and works to build awareness through activities in the hospital and community. In 2008, the auxiliary's Healthcare Scholarship Endowment Fund awarded 22 scholarships of $1,000 to students seeking health care careers.

Tuscan Sun Restaurant opens at Saint Francis

The new Tuscan Sun Restaurant at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau is now open for business. The space nearly doubles the size of the former cafeteria. The restaurant's dining area added 52 chairs, bringing total occupancy to 243 people. Both booth and table seating is available, as well as raised and additional outdoor seating. The restaurant features an expanded menu and enhanced services and equipment. It is located on the lower level of the Registration Center on the north side of the Medical Center campus.

The Tuscan Sun Restaurant provides meal service daily to nearly 2,000 patients, visitors, volunteers and employees. Hours are 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m. every day, with full menu options available during breakfast, 6:30-10 a.m.; lunch, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; and supper, 4:30-7 p.m.

For more information, call (573) 331-5142.

Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center nets top ranking

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — The surgical and orthopedic nursing unit at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center was ranked by Gallup in the top 1 percent of more than 450 hospitals surveyed nationwide during the month of August. The overall inpatient satisfaction score for all PBRMC nursing units was 3.37 of 4.0, ranking in the top 15 percent of hospitals nationwide.

Dr. Jalal recognized for service

DEXTER, Mo. — Dr. Reza Jalal recently accepted a resolution from Rep. Billy Pat Wright. Jalal was recognized during National Hospice Month for his service as medical director of the local Preferred Hospice group and for his direction in providing " physical, psychological and spiritual assistance to terminally ill patients and their families across Southeast Missouri."

Parkland Health Center installs open MRI

FARMINGTON, Mo. — Parkland Health Center has installed the Parkland area's first open bore, 1.5 Tesla, magnetic resonance imaging system that combines a larger bore, or opening, for large and claustrophobic patients. It has the ability to capture high-field quality diagnostic images.

"This is going to increase our efficiency and patient convenience," says Steve Thomure, radiology manager. "The patient-friendly design of this magnet will make it easier for large patients and those with claustrophobia to have an MRI examination which produces higher quality images. This will potentially reduce the need to repeat and interrupt exams."

The type of MRI — called an Espree made by Seimens — features a bore opening of nearly 2.3 feet in diameter and almost one foot of free space between a patient's head and the magnet. The Espree also features the shortest 1.5 Tesla magnet available. This offers the patient a similar experience to the CT scan exam. Approximately four feet long, the magnet allows more than 60 percent of exams to be completed with the patient's head outside the bore, helping to ease claustrophobia.

Parkland Health Center has facilities in Farmington and Bonne Terre. It is part of BJC HealthCare and is affiliated with Washington University School of Medicine and St. Louis Children's Hospital.

New Alzheimer's care director announced at Golden Living Center

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Donette Clark is the new director of the Alzheimer's Care Unit at Golden Living Center in New Madrid.

Clark has 15 years of experience as a caregiver and has worked with the Golden Living Center for seven years. She recently completed extensive training to focus on Alzheimer's disease and programs designed to enhance quality of life for residents with cognitive impairments.

Although Clark has earned her certification and license as a qualified Alzheimer's Care director, it also takes someone with compassion, patience kindness and consideration for the position, according to a news release. "Donette has all these qualities, and is looking forward to these challenges, application of new techniques and accomplishments of working with special-needs individuals," it said.

Saint Francis awarded Medal of Honor

Saint Francis Medical Center was awarded the Medal of Honor at the Missouri Hospital Association's 86th Annual Convention and Trade Show in Osage Beach, Mo., on Nov. 6. The Medal of Honor is a national recognition of hospitals that achieve at least a 75 percent organ donation rate from eligible donor families in a consecutive 12-month period.

Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson created the prestigious award as part of a national organ donation initiative launched in April 2001. Saint Francis was one of 16 Missouri hospitals receiving the award in 2008.

Saint Francis adds two referral services managers

Saint Francis Medical Center has recruited Nicole Dirnberger and Mark Parker as referral services managers in the Marketing and Public Relations Department. They will cultivate positive relationships with area referring physicians by addressing issues, answering questions and providing information about new services and technology available at the Medical Center.

Dirnberger grew up in St. Charles, Mo., but has lived in Benton, Mo., since 2007. She graduated from Missouri State University-Springfield with a bachelor's degree in hospitality and restaurant management and a minor in business. She has worked in sales for the last eight years and has been in the medical/pharmaceutical industry since 2004.

Parker grew up in Cape Girardeau and graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor's degree in health management, sports medicine option. After graduation, he worked for eight years as a certified athletic trainer and industrial rehab coordinator. Most recently, he promoted allergy, asthma and cardiovascular medicine for Schering-Plough in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.

Saint Francis administrators earn state recognition

A statewide medical task force that included Debra Sprandel, RN, BSN, MSN, MBA, director of medical management and neurosciences at Saint Francis Medical Center, and David Stagner, RRT, director of cardiovascular services, has won the second quarter Director's Award from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The goal of the Time Critical Diagnosis Task Force of more than 100 medical experts, leaders and emergency medical care providers was to improve health outcomes by establishing a TCD system for Missourians who suffer a stroke. Its recommendations led to legislation to implement a TCD system. The state legislature ultimately passed the measure.

New hospice option offered in Southeast Missouri

Tri-County Hospice Services, a member of Pyramid Home Health Services, has established another option for Southeast Missouri residents. The new office is located at the corner of Independence and Water Streets in Cape Girardeau.

Services are available in Stoddard, Scott, New Madrid, Bollinger, Dunklin, Butler, Wayne and Cape Girardeau counties and accepts Medicare, Medicaid and most third party payers. Tri-County Hospice Services is the newest member of Pyramid Home Health Services, a group of companies that includes Tri-County In-Home Services and Tri-County Home Health which has served Southeast Missouri since 1971.

For more information or to contact a Tri-County Hospice representative call (573) 614-4000.

Danny Bell Cancer Center celebrates 25 years

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — The Danny Bell Cancer Treatment Center at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center celebrated its 25th anniversary in November. The center was named for Danny Bell, a former lab technician and PBRMC employee who died of leukemia 20 years ago. Longtime employees and surviving members of the Bell family were honored in a ceremony on Nov. 20.

The center treats 350 to 400 cancer cases a year, according to Debbie Reagan, cancer program coordinator at the center.

Southeast hospital, nurse executive recognized

Southeast Missouri Hospital and Educational Services Director Gwen Thoma were recognized by the Missouri Area Health Education Centers for the hospital's 20-year involvement with the organization. Plaques of appreciation were presented at an awards program held by the Southeastern Missouri Health Education Center in Poplar Bluff. Thoma received a plaque recognizing 17 years of volunteer service as a member of the SEMO Area Health Education Centers board of directors. She has been on the centers' board since it began operation in 1991. She is the only original board member who is still active with that group.