Ready and able

When Dr. Kathy Jackson treats patients at Cross Trails Medical Center in Cape Girardeau she not only treats their ailments, but she gives them tips about healthy living and personal disaster preparedness.

Jackson is part of the Ready Responders program of the National Health Service Corps of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which recruits doctors and dentists to serve in rural communities and gives them specialized training in disaster response.

Jackson is one of 40 medical personnel -- 36 doctors and four dentists -- in the Commissioned Corps Readiness Force who are poised to respond to any sort of emergency, whether a terror attack, chemcial spill or even a natural disaster. She is a commissioned officer with the U.S. Public Health Service.

Cross Trails Medical Center sent a grant application to the federal health department requesting to be part of the program. The not-for-profit medical center operates three offices in Southeast Missouri: in Cape Girardeau, Marble Hill and Advance.

Jackson will spend three years working in Cape Girardeau and will continue to receive specialized training throughout her stay. Already, she's learned how to treat patients in biological disasters, about aircraft safety issues in disaster areas and trauma response.

The courses were taught by staff at the Army's Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Md. Jackson has a background in biology and immunology, so the Ready Responders program was of special interest to her.

"This is a special entity in which I could contribute," she said. "It's a unique way to serve the community."

But the majority of her work is as a primary-care physician. Since her appointment and arrival in Southeast Missouri about five months ago, Jackson hasn't had to respond to any disasters, though she knows it could happen any day.

"Not only do I have a practice, but serving in this way it's a little extra," she said.

@Subhead - story & scores:More than medicine

@Body Copy:Jackson said she chose medicine because she likes to help people, but Ready Responders lets her do a little more for her patients, too.

Not only does she tell them about how to live healthy lifestyles, but she offers tips on how to help keep their families safe in disasters. Last week, she passed out tip sheets on disaster preparedness to each of the patients she treated.

Having Dr. Jackson's expertise helps the clinic and the community, said Kevin Sexton, community development coordinator at Cross Trails.

"It allows us to serve more individuals," without passing on any costs to patients, he said. And having another doctor on the staff means that more patients can be treated, particularly patients who might not see a doctor regularly.

Jackson said most of her patients are treated for complications related to diabetes, obesity and hypertension.

"We try to educate patients on issues like diabetes and try to do prevention with exercise and healthy and healthful lifestyles," she said.

But treating one patient has a ripple effect, she added. That one patient can then pass on information to their children and family members.

"We don't just see one patient -- we see the family," she said.

@Contact note:ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126