News Around the State

Flynt Receives Prestigious Teaching Award From University of Mississippi School of Medicine

The University of Mississippi School of Medicine has presented Dr. Joel R. Flynt the 2006 Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) Excellence in Teaching Award.

The APGO Excellence in Teaching Award was established in 1992, to recognize outstanding teachers in ob-gyn medical education. The bronze medal is awarded annually to a faculty member in each APGO member and institutional department of obstetrics and gynecology who has demonstrated excellence in teaching with an emphasis on undergraduate medical education.

Dr. Flynt received a B.S. in Biology from Millsaps College and his Medical Degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. He performed his internship and residency at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Naval Regional Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. Dr. Flynt also served in the U.S. Navy, active duty, from 1975 – 1981, and was honorably discharged in April of 1982.

He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is a charter member of the Gynecologic Urology Society, is a member of the American Medical Association, a member of the Mississippi State Medical Society and the State Mississippi Medical Society.

Dr. Flynt is a physician with the Women’s Pavilion of South Mississippi, and is a member of the medical staff of Wesley Medical Center. Dr. Flynt has served as the Chairman of Credentials, Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and President of the Medical Staff of Forrest General Hospital.

Forrest General Hospital Technology Educates Tennessee Hospital

Representatives from Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tenn., recently visited Forrest General Hospital for a demonstration of technology. The team from the 612-bed hospital observed members of Forrest General’s Radiology department and Health Information Management department using Powerscribe®, Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) and Centricity™, three new technologies from GE Medical Systems, a unit of General Electric Company.

The visit is a result of Forrest General Hospital’s designation as a GE National Show Site for technology in January. Forrest General now has the opportunity to help shape new technology that will be offered throughout the nation by having it in house before it is released to other customers. People from across the United States, such as the group from Tennessee, and other countries are able to visit Forrest General to view its state-of-the-art technologies in a clinical setting.

Neil J. Solomon, M.D., radiologist at Forrest General, demonstrated Powerscribe® digital voice recognition system for the group. During the demonstration, Solomon acknowledged the system’s rapid response time and level of accuracy, stating that prior to the new system, physicians would have to wait several hours for medical reports to cycle through dictation and transcription before they were accessible. Now, the same report is generated in less than 30 minutes, expediting patient care.

The Tennessee group, who is considering installing the same systems in their hospital, also observed PACS, a computer-based system that captures, stores and displays patient images in digital form instead of on film. Forrest General staff demonstrated how the system improves patient care by allowing radiologists and other clinicians to interpret and review tests remotely, rather than in a film room on the hospital’s campus.

Solomon also showed the team how his records for each patient were automatically synced with the patient’s X-Rays and other medical information through Centricity™, a workflow integration system. Centricity™ allows for a patient’s health information to be stored in the same digital file and readily available to their health care provider.

“The future of radiology, cardiology and other “ologies” is digital,” said Diane Bailey, PACS administrator. “The decision for Forrest General was ‘when’ to go digital, not ‘why.’”

For more information on technology available at Forrest General or its designation as a National Show Site for Technology, call FGH OnCall at 1-800-844-4445, and press 1.

Boykin named Employee of the Month for June

Stevie Marie Boykin of Leland has been named Mississippi State Hospital’s (MSH) June 2006 Employee of the Month for Direct Care Services. Boykin, an active treatment technician at MSH’s crisis intervention center in Cleveland, has been employed with the hospital for nearly two years.

A native of Leland, Boykin earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Mississippi.

The MSH Employee of the Month award recognizes employees who have made outstanding contributions to the hospital through their work. The program is sponsored by Friends of Mississippi State Hospital, Inc.

Brock named Employee of the Month for June

Sherie Brock of Ridgeland has been named Mississippi State Hospital’s (MSH) June 2006 Employee of the Month for Licensed Clinical Services. Brock, a social worker at MSH, has been employed with the hospital for two years.

A native of Grenada, Brock earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Mississippi State University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern Mississippi.

The MSH Employee of the Month award recognizes employees who have made outstanding contributions to the hospital through their work. The program is sponsored by Friends of Mississippi State Hospital, Inc.

MSH names Winston Employee of the Month for June

Gizell Winston of Jackson has been named Mississippi State Hospital’s (MSH) June 2006 Employee of the Month for Support Services. Winston, a health records clerk for Jaquith Nursing Home, located on the hospital’s Whitfield campus, has been employed with the nursing home for nine years.

A native of Tchula, Winston earned an associate’s degree from Mary Holmes College.

The MSH Employee of the Month award recognizes employees who have made outstanding contributions to the hospital through their work. The program is sponsored by Friends of Mississippi State Hospital, Inc.

Bingham named Employee of the Month at MSH

Lashonda M. Bingham of Jackson has been named Mississippi State Hospital’s (MSH) May 2006 Employee of the Month for Support Services. Bingham, director of the cashier’s office and post office at MSH, has been employed with the hospital for seven years.

A native of Crystal Springs, Bingham earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Belhaven College.

The MSH Employee of the Month award recognizes employees who have made outstanding contributions to the hospital through their work. The program is sponsored by Friends of Mississippi State Hospital, Inc.

Hart named Employee of the Month

Jonathan Hart of Jackson has been named Mississippi State Hospital’s (MSH) May 2006 Employee of the Month for Direct Care Services. Hart, a certified nursing assistant at Jaquith Nursing Home located on the hospital’s Whitfield campus, has been employed with the nursing home for one year.

A native of Jackson, Hart is a graduate of Callaway High School. The MSH Employee of the Month award recognizes employees who have made outstanding contributions to the hospital through their work. The program is sponsored by Friends of Mississippi State Hospital, Inc.

MSH names Nichols Employee of the Month

Wanda Nichols of Jackson has been named Mississippi State Hospital’s (MSH) May 2006 Employee of the Month for Licensed Clinical Services. Nichols, a Licensed Practical Nurse at Jaquith Nursing Home located on the hospital’s Whitfield campus, has been employed with the nursing home for three years.

A native of Jackson, Nichols has a bachelor’s degree from Jackson State University.

The MSH Employee of the Month award recognizes employees who have made outstanding contributions to the hospital through their work. The program is sponsored by Friends of Mississippi State Hospital, Inc.

MSH officers graduate from training academy

Miss. State Hospital police personnel (left to right) Capt. Anthony Kinnard, Chief James Blackwell, Officer Jenny Pittman and Officer Jason Rudd, along with Jody Donald, director of Risk Management, which oversees MSH Police, attend graduation ceremonies for Pittman and Rudd. Graduation was held Thursday, June 15 at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers’ Training Academy in Rankin County.

After completing 10 weeks of rigorous training at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers’ Training Academy in Rankin County, Mississippi State Hospital (MSH) police officers Jenny Pittman and Jason Rudd have become certified law enforcement officers.

Following a June 15 graduation ceremony at the academy, Pittman and Rudd said they received a tremendous amount of support from their MSH family. They are particularly grateful for a physical training program developed by MSH staff that helped prepare them and strengthen their endurance for the physical part of the academy’s program.

“We actually started training here at the hospital in January,” Pittman said. “That really helped us in terms of being able to enter and go through the academy.”

“The support from MSH was through the roof,” Rudd said. “It’s been a lovely ride the whole way.”

Pittman said now that she has graduated, she will be able to better serve Miss. State Hospital.

“The patients make it all worthwhile,” she said. “This is a job in which the words ‘dull moment’ do not exist.”

MSH Police Chief James Blackwell said that Pittman and Rudd were ideal candidates for the academy.

“They are both motivated individuals,” he said. “They worked harder than any officers I have sent to the academy in 31 years.”

Pittman and Rudd said they are thankful to have graduated and thankful for the opportunity to work for such a close-knit police department.

“We’re one big brotherhood,” Rudd said. “We all work together, accomplishing our goals as a team.”

“The sole mission of the MSH police department is to serve and protect,” Pittman said.

Forrest General Hospital Spirit of Women Member Receives National Award

Forrest General Hospital’s Spirit of Women External Advisory Board member Sheila Varnado was recently honored for her work during the aftermath and recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Varnado was presented her award during the “Spirit in Action: 8th Anniversary National Award Celebration” during the National Spirit of Women Conference held at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center on Lake Grapevine in Dallas, Texas.

“Sheila Varnado exemplifies the strength and spirit of American women that can not only survive great tragedy, but thrive in spite of it,” said Tanya Abreu, National Program Director and President of Spirit of Women. “Spirit of Women is proud to honor Sheila as a national hero who is working tirelessly to restore not only the daily lives of Katrina victims in Southeast Mississippi, but also their spirit. We salute Sheila Varnado and Forrest General Hospital as pillars for community health and recovery,” said Abreu.

"We're so proud of Sheila,” said Millie Swan, Director of Physician and Public Relations and Director of Spirit of Women at Forrest General Hospital. “She leads with vision and heart, and has such a passion for service and helping others. She is a true asset to our community and our state. It was wonderful to see her receive such a meaningful award,” said Swan.

Varnado currently serves as the Long-Term Recovery Manager of R3SM (Recover, Rebuild, Restore Southeast Mississippi), a program of the United Way of Southeast Mississippi. R3SM was implemented in January 2006 to identify unmet needs of individuals in Forrest, Lamar and Perry counties affected by Hurricane Katrina and meet those needs through collaborative efforts and resources. Varnado implements and manages the operations of this program, including facilitating a partnership with governmental, faith-based, non-profit and volunteer agencies, the media and other community organizations to promote on-going disaster preparedness.

Prior to her service with the United Way, Colonel Varnado served for more than 27 years on active duty in the U.S. Army, both stateside and overseas. Upon retirement in January 2004, she served as the Planner for the Southeast One Regional Response Team, Office of Homeland Security and the City of Hattiesburg, for which the Mississippi State Homeland Security Office recognized her for her prompt and thorough work with the Homeland Security Grant Program.

“I was truly humbled by the fact that I was chosen for this recognition,” said Sheila Varnado. “I was proud to represent our community because my recognition is really a reflection and validation of all of the sustained, cooperative and great work that has been achieved since Hurricane Katrina struck our community, and continues today in the greater Hattiesburg area. I am appreciative to the United Way Board of Directors for giving me the unique opportunity to serve the community in the Long-Term Recovery Manager position. I am eternally grateful to the wonderful staff of Spirit of Women and Forrest General Hospital for seizing the initiative to nominate me, thus showcasing our local recovery work. I appreciate their confidence in me and my ability to represent them in the National Spirit of Women Program,” said Varnado.

The Spirit of Women Regional and National Awards honor ordinary women who do extraordinary things. Each woman honored represents the unsung heroes of American society.

Now celebrating its 8th year, the National Awards Program is one of the cornerstones of Spirit of Women, a national network of leading hospitals dedicated to improving women's lives with innovative health and community programs. Spirit of Women Hospitals touch the lives of millions of women each year through the presentation of educational events, consumer membership programs, annual conferences, marketing communications and grass roots efforts to improve the health and well-being of women everywhere. The initiative enables participating hospitals, such as Forrest General, to focus on community needs while providing the strength of national support.

For more information about Spirit of Women or to join, call FGH OnCall at 1-800-844-4445, then press 1, or visit www.forrestgeneral.com.