Southeast Hospital putting finishing touches on big projects

For more than three-quarters of a century, Southeast Missouri Hospital has helped shape the direction of health care for the region.

Recognized as one of Missouri's leaders in the provision of health services, Southeast today is a 269-bed medical center that annually serves almost 100,000 inpatients and outpatients from more than 20 Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois counties.

In addition to Southeast's five centers -- the Regional Heart Center, Regional Cancer Center, Regional Brain and Spine Center, Emergency Services and the Center for Women's and Children's Services -- the hospital offers a full continuum of medical and wellness services designed to meet the region's health-care needs.

"Since its opening in 1928, Southeast Missouri Hospital's leaders, through their shared vision and commitment, have continually worked to enhance and expand services and facilities," said Southeast president and CEO James W. Wente. "Our responsibility to the region is to provide a quality of health care in which our patients can have confidence and that we are proud to offer."

Last year was an exceptionally progressive one for Southeast, Wente said, adding that this year will be no exception to the rule as the hospital puts finishing touches on some projects and progresses on others.

New patient areas

Earlier this month, surgical and cardiac progressive care patients began enjoying the privacy and comfort of spacious new patient rooms on the fourth- and fifth-floor addition to Southeast's Harrison Annex. The two new floors house 40 patient rooms, 34 of which are private. The rooms resemble hotel accommodations, with many featuring 27-inch television sets, DVD players and baths with showers.

The $16 million modernization project, scheduled for completion in 2005, will continue to progress this year with a sweeping renovation of many other existing patient-care areas.

Expansion projects are also under way elsewhere in the hospital. The number of operating suites will grow from 14 to 18, and additional square footage will be added to the Cardiovascular Laboratory, the Department of Emergency Medicine and the Department of Radiology.

Medical Office Building

When Southeast opened in 1928, fewer than a dozen physicians maintained a practice in Cape Girardeau. Today, more than 200 physicians representing every major medical specialty practice at Southeast. By 2005, physicians will have the opportunity to base their medical practices out of Southeast's new Medical Office Building now under construction on the Broadway side of the Hospital campus.

In addition to office space for approximately 40 physicians, the building will house conveniently-located services for patients, including Radiology, Laboratory services and a retail pharmacy.

HealthPoint Plaza

Southeast's HealthPoint Plaza at 2126 Independence is on target for a summer 2004 opening that will introduce area residents to a new concept in fitness and rehabilitation.

"Our commitment is not only to care for the sick but to invest in community health as well," Wente said. He noted that Southeast established the region's first hospital-based Wellness Center in 1979 and in 1996 brought a broad continuum of family-oriented fitness services to the Jackson area through Main Street Family Fitness Center.

HealthPoint Plaza will feature, under one roof and in an attractive plaza-like setting, two distinct areas: medical services and a medically-based fitness center.

Medical services will include Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Occupational Medicine, adult and pediatric rehab services, work rehab and warm water therapy. Fitness services include a gym, indoor walk/jog track, a fitness concourse with a cardio theater, a central cadiovascular area, free weight area, strength area, studios for aerobic and spinning and locker rooms with private showers and whirlpools.

Working closely with HealthPoint Plaza are Paul Guidos, M.D., and Annamaria Guidos, M.D., who joined Southeast's medical staff in January.

Both specialize in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and come to Cape Girardeau with an extensive background in the rehabilitation of patients with strokes and brain and spinal cord injuries. Among the many clinical services Dr. Paul Guidos and Dr. Annamaria Guidos will bring to the region is Motor Point Block (Phenol or Botox injection), a safe and effective treatment for muscle spasticity that is most commonly seen following stroke, brain or spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy.

Cancer treatment

For more than 36 years, Southeast's Regional Cancer Center and its experienced Radiation Oncology team have provided patients with the latest cancer treatment technology and procedures close to home. The coming months will bring new additions in the Regional Cancer Center's arsenal of technology to battle cancer. Over the past year, Southeast installed a powerful new linear accelerator equipped with intensity modulated radiation therapy and introduced prostate brachytherapy, a treatment option for men with prostate cancer.

Later this spring, the Regional Cancer Center will become one of fewer than 50 medical centers worldwide to offer Novalis® shape Beam SurgeryTM, manufactured by Brain LAB. Novalis will enable physicians to treat tumors of the brain, head and neck, spine, liver, lung and prostate on an outpatient basis, with no incision, no anesthesia and no post-procedure recovery time.

New radiology technologies

Southeast began converting to a digital imaging system for X-rays, CT scans and other forms of diagnostic in 2002, continued that conversion last year and this year will offer additional access to the hospital's picture archiving and communications system in physician offices and other off-site locations.

Compared to traditional X-ray film, Southeast's PACS technology offers higher-quality images with no film developing delays and the ability to store several years worth of images on a computer mainframe that is approximately the same size as a household refrigerator. The same amount of traditional X-ray film would require a small warehouse to store.

Earlier this year, Southeast upgraded its diagnostic imaging capabilities with the addition of a state-of-the-art PET/CT system. This new technology combines positron emission tomography and computerized tomography into a single device, making it possible to collect and combine PET and CT data during a single examination. The scanning process gives patients and physicians comprehensive diagnostic information such as extremely accurate tumor detection and localization.

Children's services

The formalization of a long-standing relationship between Southeast and SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis promises to further improve and expand pediatric, neonatal and nursery resources in the region, Wente said. "This affiliation moves an already excellent relationship forward in a very positive manner.

Doug Ries, president of SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, echoed Wente's words.

"As we considered a partnership to serve children in Southeast Missouri, it was important to us that we affiliate with a hospital that shares our commitment to children's health," he said. "After a thorough assessment of Southeast Missouri Hospital's range of services, we felt this was a partnership that would yield great results for the children of the region."

Under the partnership, the more than 14,000 children who rely on Southeast for pediatric services each year will have facilitated access to sub-specialty services at Cardinal Glennon, one of the nation's top children's hospitals. Southeast will incorporate Cardinal Glennon policies and procedures into its pediatric protocols and will also have clinical support from Cardinal Glennon. By mid-summer, Southeast expects to add two neonatologists -- board certified pediatricians with three additional years of special training in newborn care -- to its medical staff.

The Magnet journey

Southeast has begun the journey toward Magnet Nursing Services Recognition Program designation. The American Nurses Credentialing Center awards the maximum level of acknowledgment, Magnet Recognition, to those health care organizations exhibiting excellence in health care.

Of Southeast's nursing staff, 94 percent are RNs, and 48.3 percent have a bachelors degree or higher. Twenty-three percent are certified in their specialty. Of the hospital's present nursing staff, the average number of years employed at Southeast is 10.

Sharon Stinson, MSA, BSN, RN, CNA, BC, coordinator of the Magnet process, says a Magnet designation tells the public "that we have better patient outcomes, high staff satisfaction and a low turnover rate. It's the highest recognition that a nursing service can earn nationally."