SOUTHEAST HOSPITAL ACCEPTS MAJOR GIFT, ELECTS OFFICERS

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A special "planned gift" of $500,000 and the creation of a special scholarship fund for Southeast Missouri Hospital employees pursuing further education in the health sciences were announced at the hospital association's annual dinner meeting here Thursday night.

Approximately 900 association members and guests attended the event, held at the Student Recreation Center on the Southeast Missouri State University campus.

The program was built around the theme "A Celebration of Service," and saluted the service contributions of the many entities working for advancements in health care at the hospital and throughout the region the hospital's administrative staff, medical staff, board of trustees, foundation, auxiliary, and employees.

Special recognition was accorded to Dorothy Rapp Mitchell, whose association with the hospital spans more than three decades, and former Southeast administrator O.D. Niswonger, who retired Dec. 31.

Mitchell of Cape Girardeau and Sun City West, Ariz., was honored for her role as a founding contributor to the Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation's new "21st Century Partners Program." She recently presented the hospital foundation with a planned gift of $500,000 through the purchase of a specially-designated life insurance policy.

Charles L. Hutson, new president of the hospital board, announced the creation of the O.D. Niswonger Scholarship Fund as a tribute to Niswonger's 30-year affiliation with the hospital.

"The scholarship recognizes Niswonger's promotion of professional advancement and a progressive environment for Southeast employees working in all phases of health care," Hutson said.

He presented Niswonger with a resolution of appreciation on behalf of the hospital trustees. Additional recognition was given to Niswonger by the Missouri House of Representatives in a resolution presented by Rep. Mary C. Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, and by an honorary plaque presented by Dr. Richard L. Kies on behalf of the Cape Girardeau County Area Medical Society.

Kies also announced that Niswonger had been named an "honor member" of the Cape Girardeau County Medical Association.

Mitchell's association with Southeast Missouri Hospital started in 1954 when her late husband, Dr. Harold B. Rapp, started his radiology practice in Cape Girardeau. Rapp's professional involvement at the hospital included service as chief of the Department of Radiology and president of the Missouri Radiological Society. Following his death in 1982, a radiology reading room in the hospital's Department of Radiology was dedicated in tribute to Rapp.

As a member of the Southeast Missouri Hospital Auxiliary, Mitchell served the organization in many capacities, including treasurer, vice president and president. She joined the Southeast Missouri Hospital association in 1978, and in 1984 was elected to the hospital's board of trustees. She served on the active board until last spring when she became an honorary member.

Other highlights during the annual dinner Thursday included an address by physician and nationally-known stress management lecturer, Dr. Steve Allen Jr; re-election of 10 individuals to seats on the board of trustees; remarks by new Southeast Administrator James W. Wente; and introduction of physicians who have joined the Southeast Missouri Hospital staff since last April.

Wente discussed the hospital's accomplishments of the past year, and challenges ahead for the nation's health care industry.

"Challenges include providing technologically current care at a reasonable cost to consumers and coping with increasing governmental financial constraints and decreasing reimbursements," he said.

"The year ahead will also provide the hospital with an opportunity to upgrade major equipment with acquisitions, which will include a new Philips CAT Scanner package for the Department of Radiology and a replacement therapy simulator for the Regional Cancer Center."

Wente told the group that the hospital, with its 1,300 employees, is the second largest employer in the Cape Girardeau area, ranking only behind Procter & Gamble.

"The cost of operating our hospital is $7,100 an hour," he said. "In 1991, we will care for more than 65,000 patients."

During the business portion of the meeting, Charles L. Hutson was installed as new president of the board and Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. was named as the new first vice-president. Hutson succeeds J. Ronald Fischer.

Board members re-elected to seats on the 36-member active board included Mrs. E. Lawrence Bahn Jr., Paul L. Bray, Paul L. Ebaugh, Robert W. Erlbacher II, Milton A. George, Mrs. Stanley A. Grimm, Charles L. Hutson, H. Weldon Macke, Donald T. McNeely, and Stephen Strom.

New physicians who have become a part of the Cape Girardeau medical community in the past year were recognized. They are Margaret R. Anderson, M.D., pathology; Lyle L. Brown, M.D., cardiothoracic; Timothy J. McDermott, M.D., cardiology; Joseph P. Miller, M.D., radiation oncology; John R. Reisser, M.D., surgery; Deborah G. Thomas, M.D., family practice; James L. Thornton, M.D., pediatrics; and Bruce R. Wescott, M.D., anesthesiology.