Health news

Hospital recognizes employees for service

KENNETT, Mo. — Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett, Mo., recently recognized employees for years of service to the hospital. Employees received a service pin to commemorate their employment milestone.

Ten years of service: Geneva Hickson, Med/Surg; Kristie Hopkins, ER; Alice Malone, Materials Management; Kelly Miller, Outpatient Surgery; Debi Parker, Occ Med; Stacey Skelton, OB; Debbie Wiliford, ER; and Shane Wilson, Nursing.

Fifteen years of service: Susie Brown, Environmental Services; Jill Midkiff, Respiratory Therapy; and Norma Statler, ICU.

Twenty years of service: Martha Nichols, Acute Rehab; and Pam Williams, Environmental Services.

Thirty years of service: Eria Grays, Pediatrics; Tom Gross, Pharmacy; Cindy McKuin, Admissions; and Rosemary Pelts, Materials Management.

Thirty-five years of service: Burnnie Coburn, ICU.

Garner joins Cross Trails Medical

Denzel Garner recently joined Cross Trails Medical Center as chief executive officer. He is a native of Southeast Missouri and a Navy Veteran. Garner has more than 20 years of experience in executive medicine, successfully serving in numerous staff and leadership positions in the United States and overseas. He holds degrees in health services administration and is board certified in health care management and a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Twin Rivers recognizes employees

KENNETT, Mo. — Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett, Mo., recently announced its Employees of the Year for 2008. The award is presented to a manager, registered nurse and an employee. Recipients are selected from individuals who have been chosen as an Employee of the Quarter during the year. Employees of the Quarter are nominated by their peers and selected by the administrative team. Employees of the Year include Rhonda Hamlett, Employee of the Year; Paula Hodge, Nurse of the Year; and Jill Midkiff, Manager of the Year.

Missouri Delta welcomes new surgeon

SIKESTON, Mo. — Missouri Delta Physician Services welcomes Thomas Tinnesz, MD. He is a board certified general surgeon with over 23 years of experience in general surgery and private practice. His office is located at 135 Plaza Drive, Suite 202, in Sikeston. To schedule an appointment, call 573-472-6003.

Dr. Krishna joins Southeast Missouri Hospital

Krishnamohan R. Basarakodu (Dr. Krishna) has joined the medical staff at Southeast Missouri Hospital and Hematology-Oncology Associates of Southeast Missouri Hospital. He joins Robert K. Oldham, Roberto Martinez and Celia L. Chan in the practice of hematology-oncology. The office is located in Southeast Medical Plaza, 1723 Broadway in Cape Girardeau.

Dr. Krishna is board eligible in medical oncology and hematology. Before coming to Cape Girardeau, he was a member of the medical staff at Alegent Health Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, Mich.

Maxim Healthcare adds Johnston to staff

Maxim Healthcare Services has named Matt Johnston as accounts manager for the Cape Girardeau office. With two years experience with Maxim Healthcare in the Kansas City area, he will manage the sales and recruitment operations of the Cape Girardeau office, 3065 William St., Suite 101.

Local physician recertified as review officer

Dennis J. Straubinger, DO, MPH, MRO, occupational medicine physician at Saint Francis Medical Center, recently requalified as a certified medical review officer. He was certified by the Medical Review Officer Certification Council, an independent physician-based certifying body that conducts an extensive application process and written examination to identify licensed physicians with the highest professional standards of medical expertise and practical skills necessary to evaluate drug and alcohol test results in public and private sectors of the workplace.

Southeast Hospital earns Heart Association award

Southeast Missouri Hospital has received the American Heart Association's Get With the Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease (GWTG-CAD) Gold Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes Southeast's commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of cardiac care.

Under the GWTG-CAD program, patients are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies before they are discharged. Hospitals that receive the Gold Performance Achievement Award have demonstrated for 24 consecutive months that at least 85 percent of its eligible coronary patients are discharged following the AHA's treatment guidelines.

SGCMH expands to Bloomsdale Family Health Center

BLOOMSDALE, Mo. — Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital is expanding services to its Bloomsdale Family Health Center, beginning with women's services. Angela Misuraco, women's health nurse practitioner, will will provide virtually the same services that are at the women's wellness medical office in the hospital. Dr. Donald Balacuit, family practitioner, is at the center full-time.

For an appointment, call the Bloomsdale Family Health Center at 573-483-9492.

Twin Rivers CEO receives PETA award

KENNETT, Mo. — Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center CEO John McClellan has received an award for cancelling the annual donkey basketball game hosted by the hospital's Relay for Life Team. The Compassionate Business Award was presented by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals organization. In a letter to McClellan, PETA representatives made numerous arguments for why the games are harmful to the animals and also pose a risk for humans.

Cancer Institute reaccredited

The Saint Francis Medical Center Cancer Institute has again earned reaccreditation with commendation from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer for 2009-11. The Commission on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through prevention, research, education and monitoring of comprehensive quality care standards.

Saint Francis received the reaccreditation after a specially trained physician surveyor from the COC conducted an evaluation of the scope and organization of the Cancer Institute. The surveyor rated compliance with standards of care and reviewed information on functionality within the Cancer Institute since its last reaccreditation three years ago. Reaccreditation with commendation is only given to programs that comply with all standards of care and receive a commendation rating for one or more standard.

Local women to serve on state board

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Missouri Foundation for Health annouces the election of Cynthia G. Dean of Poplar Bluff as one of four new members to its board of directors, along with the re-election of two current members. The 15-member board provdes oversight of all MFH activities and grant making.

Dean is the CEO for Missouri Bootheel Regional Consortium, Inc. She has been a member of MFH's Community Advisory Committee since 2003, serving as chair since 2007.

Elected last term and serving on the board is Dorothy M. Munch, DO, of Poplar Bluff. With more than 20 years of experience in family medicine, Munch is currently in solo practice at Poplar Bluff Wellness Clinic.

Poplar Bluff welcomes new dermatologist

Dr. Lance Yeoman, D.O., recently opened his private practice at Kneibert Clinic in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He is board certified in dermatology and offers dermatology services to patients of all ages. The clinic is located at 686 Lester St. in Poplar Bluff. For more information, call 573-686-4750, e-mail info@thedermatologyoffice.com or visit thedermatologyoffice.com.

Southeast Hospital first to use new EKG system

Ambulance patients receive quicker treatment at Southeast Missouri Hospital for severe heart attacks thanks to a new Web-based technology. The LIFENET STEMI device allows paramedics to send 12-lead electrocardiogram results to the hospital's Emergency Services Department and Cath Lab while the patient is en route to the hospital. This allows the cardiac team to better prepare to treat the patient. Southeast Missouri Hospital is the first in Southeast Missouri and among the first statewide to utilize this system.

The technology is being used in association with Cape County Private Ambulance Service and the Stoddard County Ambulance District.

Southeast Missouri Hospital gets second Magnet

For the second time, Southeast Missouri Hospital has earned Magnet status. The American Nurses Credentialing Center uses Magnet to recognize hospitals for excellence in nursing services. The hospital first earned Magnet status in 2004 and was the first hospital in the state outside of a metropolitan area to do so.

Cross Trails to build new clinic in Advance

ADVANCE, Mo. — A partnership between Cross Trails Medical Center, The Bank of Advance and the City of Advance has resulted in a new medical and dental clinic to be built in the heart of the city. Work has been underway for the past few months to solidify a land deal whereby The Bank of Advance and the City of Advance donated a portion of their land to Cross Trails. This donation of land, combined with the land Cross Trails purchased, will allow the organization to build a 6,000 square foot clinic across from City Hall and behind the bank, encompassing a full city block. The building will be built with funds from a State of Missouri grant for Capital Improvement projects. Work on the lot should begin in late April or early May.

Akers named to top MSH position

DEXTER, Mo. — Harry Alvis, chief operating officer of Sunlink HealthSystem, LLC, has announced that Amy Akers has accepted the position of chief executive officer at Dexter's Missouri Southern Healthcare. She has been acting CEO for almost three months. Akers has been with Missouri Southern Healthcare for over seven years. Prior to accepting the role of chief executive officer, she worked as the chief nursing officer.