Medical Briefs

Scholarship named for doctor

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A scholarship has been established in memory of Dr. Michael Laster, who died April 19. Laster had practiced medicine at Kneibert Clinic in Poplar Bluff for nearly 20 years, and donated time to students at Poplar Bluff High School by teaching physiology for nearly six years. The scholarship is set up by the Poplar Bluff School Foundation, and will be awarded yearly to a senior who has completed the physiology course and plans to pursue a career in medicine.

Health office opens

KENNETT, Mo. -- Pyramid Group, Inc., a statewide in-home health care and medical home office has opened at 100 College St. in Kennett. Pyramid provides in-home health and medical care for Medicaid/Medicare recipients, private pay/private insurance recipients and veterans. It works with the Missouri Department of Mental Health and the Department of Healthy Children at 11 offices, a corporate office and five home health offices throughout the state.

Counselor attends workshop

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Ann Kneibert, licensed professional counselor, recently attended a workshop, "Emotional intelligence in couples therapy /advances in neurobiology and the sciences of intimate relationships," sponsored by St. John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis.

Doctor lectures at university

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Ed Masters, a medical doctor with Ferguson Medical Group, was an invited speaker for a CDC sponsored national conference on Vectorborne Diseases hosted by Duke University Medical School, in Durham, N.C., on May 8 and 9.

Employees earn recognition

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Two Sikeston Health Care Employees were honored recently. Janet Harp was chosen April Employee of the Month at Sikeston Health Care. Employed in the housekeeping department, Harp has been on the staff at Sikeston Health Care since 2002.

Jamie Sauceda, a certified nurse assistant, is the Sikeston Health Care May Employee of the Month.

Saint Francis Auxilian Felicia Fox Recognized as Auxilian of the year

Saint Francis Medical Center auxilian Felicia Fox was recently honored with the Vernice V. Baumstark Award at the annual Auxiliary and Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. The award was created in honor of Vernice Baumstark, the first Auxiliary president who served Saint Francis unceasingly for 35 years, and is given each year to the person who best represents the organizations' dedication, loyalty and service to the Medical Center.

Since beginning her volunteer service in 1996, Fox has given more than 10,250 volunteer hours to the Medical Center and has served as Auxiliary Treasurer for seven years. She currently works in both Saint Francis gift shops.

Taylor joins Southeast Missouri Hospital staff

Dr. E. Lee Taylor has recently joined the administrative staff of Southeast Missouri Hospital as vice president and chief medical officer. Taylor most recently was affiliated with Muskogee Regional Medical Center in Muskogee, Okla., where he was serving as co-interim CEO.

Taylor is a graduate of Austin College in Sherman, Texas. He received his M.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Taylor completed a general surgery residency at the University of Missouri-Columbia Medical Center and was offered a vascular fellowship at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. He also attended the University of Tulsa College of Business in Tulsa, Okla., where he was an MBA candidate, and in 2000 he received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Tulsa College of Law.

Urologist appointed as liaison physician

The Commission on Cancer has recently announced that James E. Outman, a urologist with Urology Associates in Cape Girardeau, has received a three-year appointment as cancer liaison physician for the cancer program at Southeast Missouri Hospital. He succeeds Walter A. Schroeder, a Cape Girardeau otolaryngologist.

Cancer Liaison Physicians are an integral part of cancer programs approved by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. Outman is one of a national network of more than 1,600 volunteer physicians who are responsible for providing leadership and direction to establish, maintain and support their facilities' cancer programs. Outman, who has a significant interest in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with malignant diseases, is a member of the Multidisciplinary Cancer Committee at Southeast. He has been a member of the medical staff at Southeast Missouri Hospital since 2003.

FBI probes air ambulance service

POPLAR BLUFF -- Air-Evac Lifeteam is under FBI investigation. Authorities retrieved documents from Air Evac's corporate headquarters in West Plains, Mo., in May.

The inquiry concerns billing and health are compliance-related matters, said Julie Heavrin, public relations manager for Air Evac, which operates in 11 states. Heavrin could not say if the investigation was limited to Missouri operations.

The company continues to operate as normal. Air Evac Lifeteam was started more tan 20 years ago in West Plains by a group of private citizens. There are 64 Air Evac bases, including Poplar Bluff, which transport critically ill patients from rural areas to major hospitals.

New technology at PB hospital

POPLAR BLUFF -- Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center has become the first hospital in Missouri to implement new technology geared toward reducing medication errors during a patient's stay.

Founded in 2002, IntelliDOT Corporation developed the first ever nurse-centered workflow manager called the CARE System. The system uses bar code technology to retrieve patients' medication orders using a wireless handheld device.