News Around the State

Central Mississippi Medical Center Recognizes Teen Volunteers

Pictured from left to right in the back row are: Aaron Hinkle, Becky Martin – Volunteer Coordinator, Calvin Bogan, Alicia Hinkle, Jessica Goodwin, Deatrice Baker and Shelton Griffith. On the front row, pictured from left to right are: Paige Crudup, Courtney White, Marena Jeffeson, Sabrena Jefferson and Albonie Ford.

At a luncheon on July 27, Central Mississippi Medical Center recognized area teens who served in the VolunTEEN program during the summer. The program that began on June 12th was designed to help teens gain work experience in various departments at the hospital. Twenty-two teens volunteered over 1,500 hours to CMMC staff members, visitors and patients.

Participants were recognized for their dedication at the ceremony with certificates. Employees who worked with the teens were also present and took the opportunity to thank these summer volunteers.

Teen volunteers who are not in the photo include: Shamitre Crudup. Chas Walker, Ashley Carpenter, Chelsea McDonald, Kaylee Parker, Amanda Hunter, Megan Lee, Kirkland Ashley, Blake McCarty and Nicole Summers.

Orthopedic Surgeon Opens Practice in Rankin County

Rankin Medical Center recently announced the addition of William “Bill” D. Lawrence, D.O., to its active medical staff.

Dr. Lawrence is an orthopedic surgeon and will be in private practice in Brandon as Rankin Orthopedic Specialists. The office is located at 346 Crossgates Blvd. Suite 102 and can be reached by calling (601) 825-1757.

Lawrence received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he graduated Cum Laude and was on the President’s List. He then went on to receive his Doctor of Osteopathy degree from the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, was a member of the honor society of Psi Sigma Alpha, received the Warren G. Tuttle Pharmacology Award and received the Versalius Award in anatomy.

Dr. Lawrence completed his rotating internship and his Orthopedic Surgery Residency at the Medical Center of Independence in Independence, Missouri.

He is a resident member of the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, a member of the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, as well as the Jackson County Osteopathic Association.

Dr. Lawrence, his wife and family are residing in Flowood and are proud to be in Rankin County.

Bridging communication at SCRMC

South Central Regional Medical Center (SCRMC) recently held a leadership session focused on improving communication within the organization.

South Central recognizes communication as being of the key factors that impact service excellence and patient satisfaction. Curnis Upkins, vice president for workforce development for the Mississippi Hospital Association, shared with South Central leaders the importance of open and effective communication and the role that each plays in successful organizations.

Communication is more than simply talking or listening. It involves the comprehension of the information being transmitted as well as acknowledgment by the receiver that the message was delivered and understood as intended. Open and effective communication allows the flow of information to pass smoothly between co-workers and departments creating a more productive organization, said Upkins.

Upkins requested the participation of the audience to demonstrate communication barriers and how to over come them. He demonstrated the dramatic difference in results obtained from people by giving complete directions versus that of instructions that were not concise. By way of this demonstration, he was able to allow us to actually see the importance of giving clear, concise communications to employees in order to achieve the best results, said Barbara McDaniels, Transcription Supervisor at SCRMC.

SCRMC along with South Central University (SCU), South Central's Education Initiative, hosts quarterly leadership sessions that address topics to ensure the medical center's success. Stanley Coco, SCU Chairman said, Each of our South Central University sessions focus on one or more of our leadership core competencies and our next session will emphasize teamwork. We have had two very successful sessions thus far because of our internal SCU teamwork and we are now going to spread or "cascade" this concept throughout our organization. Cascading is a great process because it empowers our front line employees and allows them to understand why they play an essential role in our pursuit of excellence.

Hallerin Hilton Hill, an author, motivational speaker, trainer and radio talk show host in Knoxville, Tennessee, will be the keynote speaker for the next Leadership Session held in September. The topic will be on teamwork and building bridges between departments.

Rankin Medical Center Welcomes New Family Physician

Rankin Medical Center recently announced the newest member of their active medical staff, Jennifer Joiner Bryan, M.D, who will be in private practice in the field of Family Medicine at 348 Crossgates Boulevard, Suite 2400 effective August 7.

Dr. Bryan, a Brandon native, earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in 2003, where she completed her Family Medicine Residency, as well. Throughout her medical career, she has received many honors and awards, including being a member of the International Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, a resident member of the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians Board of Directors from 2004-2005, and she served as Chief Resident for the 2005-2006 academic year.

Dr. Bryan has been married to her husband, Tim, for six years and is the daughter of Dennis and Marsha Joiner of Brandon. She is a member of Parkway Baptist Church in Clinton.

Forrest General Hospital Educates Students on Medical Technology

Karnes Center students were given a private tour of the latest technology innovations at Forrest General Hospital. Their trip concluded with an in-depth tour of the Cancer Center, given by Forrest General employee Larry Townsend. Pictured left to right are (first row) Maggie Brister; Natalie Domingue; Jasmine Warfield; Caroline Polska; (second row) Joseph Pumphrey, Karnes Center counselor; Ian Warren; Detrick Rodgers; Larry Townsend, certified medical dosimetrist at the FGH Cancer Center; Tyler Westbrooks; Blair Tucker; and Nadine Ekes, Karnes Center Human Anatomy and Physiology instructor.

Forrest General Hospital recently hosted students from the Frances A. Karnes Center Summer Program for Academically Talented Youth with a special tour of the hospital’s most state-of-the-art medical equipment.

Part of The University of Southern Mississippi’s Department of Education and Psychology, the Karnes Center summer program offers students the opportunity to live at Southern Miss for three weeks while engaging in intense curriculum specific to their interest. Students touring Forrest General were members of the Human Anatomy and Physiology class.

“Each summer, Forrest General provides great insight for our students interested in the medical field,” said Nadine Ekes, Karnes Center Human Anatomy and Physiology instructor. “This is their only learning experience outside the classroom, and Forrest General always gives students the opportunity to examine the technology advances in the health care industry.”

While at Forrest General, the class toured several areas, including the Radiology Department and the Pharmacy. The students got to witness Radiology’s 64-slice computed tomography (CT) imaging system and the Signa® EXCITE High Definition 3Tesla™ MRI scanner. In the Pharmacy, they watched a demonstration of the robotic drug distribution system. The class also visited Forrest General’s Cancer Center, where they received a private tour and learned about innovations such as the linear accelerator.

The Karnes Center enrolls seventh- through tenth-grade students with SAT or ACT scores comparable to those of entering college freshmen, and participants typically come from Southeastern states. Forrest General has been providing tours for the Karnes Center students for nearly 10 years.

Forrest General has been designated by GE Medical Systems, a unit of General Electric Company, as a National Show Site for Technology. With its designation from GE as a showcase hospital, Forrest General 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 all over the United States and other countries are able to visit Forrest General to view its state-of-the-art technologies in a clinical setting.

For more information on Forrest General’s services, contact FGH OnCall at 1-800-844-4445, and press 1.

SRHS Employee Relief Fund helps many

In the days following Hurricane Katrina, people were returning home to find destruction and loss. Singing River Hospital System employees, however, continued to report to work and care for patients, despite great personal loss. When faced with the price of rebuilding, many who were without flood insurance were unsure of just how they would pay to restore their home.

Coastal Mississippi Healthcare Fund (CMHF), the charitable organization set up by Singing River Hospital System, was one outlet that provided financial assistance to SRHS employees.

"My story is no different from anyone else's," said Janet Williams, Administrative Assistant, SRHS. "I had three feet of water, no flood insurance, and I didn't know where the money I needed was going to come from."

Williams, a single mother whose entire family also suffered damage, was one of 786 employees to receive a financial disbursement from CMHF. She is now back in her home in Pascagoula and felt very thankful that the Fund would help in assisting her rebuilding efforts.

CMHF has distributed over $792,000 to Hospital System employees faced with rebuilding their homes. The funds were generated by private donations received from individuals and organizations all over the country. CMHF is also funding employee stress debriefings and seminars throughout the Hospital System.

"The Fund is very important to the Hospital System and to the community simply because the Hospital System obviously is not able to fund every need of employees and the community," said Billy Knight, newly-elected CMHF President. "The employee relief program allowed us to show employees how much they mean to the System, and we were glad to be there for them during their greatest time of need."

Other Coastal Mississippi Healthcare Fund Board officers for the year are Dr. Paul Moore, Sr., Vice President; Mike Crews, Treasurer; and Lynn Truelove, Secretary. Rod Hartung of Pascagoula served as President until Mr. Knight recently accepted the position.

To donate to CMHF or for more information, please contact Executive Director Maggie Clarkson at (228) 809-5625 or (228) 497-8873.

Forrest General Hospital Administrator Earns Fellowship

Forrest General Hospital’s Vice President of Business Development, Allen Meadows, recently completed the requirements for fellowship status in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Meadows successfully passed a day-long verbal and written examination in Chicago, met the annual continuing education requirements, and completed a year-long mentorship with a graduate student from the USM MPH/MBA dual degree program.

“Attaining this highest status in our professional society is a testament to Allen’s important contributions to excellence in healthcare management,” said Edward L. Foster, ACHE Regent and President of Mississippi Hospital Association Solutions, Inc.

Meadows’ duties at FGH include strategic and business planning, marketing, insurance operations, and fund development as well as oversight of Highland Community Hospital in Picayune and Walthall Community Hospital in Tylertown.

Meadows joined FGH in 1998, moving from Atlanta where he worked for the Georgia Division of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). He has over 20 years of hospital experience, and holds masters degrees in hospital administration and in communications. Meadows and his wife reside in Hattiesburg in Forrest County.

Lott joins JNH leadership team

Chantel Lott of Brandon, has joined the leadership team of Jaquith Nursing Home (JNH) as the facility’s marketing director, announced Marc Lewis, JNH director.

A native of Grenada, Lott has a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication with emphasis in public relations from Mississippi State University.

Lott is on the board of directors of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi and a member of the Southern Public Relations Federation. She is also an active member of Crossgates Baptist Church.

Rankin Medical Center Welcomes New Pediatrician

Rankin Medical Center is pleased to announce the addition of Dana LaNell Roe, M.D. to its active medical staff.

Dr. Roe, a pediatrician returning to her hometown roots of Rankin County, has joined the Rankin Children’s Group, PLLC at 1405 Crossgates Drive West effective this week.

Roe received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Millsaps College with a major in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She graduated cum laude and with honors, then went on to receive her Master of Science in Pathology and Doctor of Medicine from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. She completed her internship and her residency at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.

Dr. Roe has passed steps 1-3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination and is certified in Basic Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support and the Neonatal Resuscitation Program. She has been a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, Internal Medicine Club, the National Biological Honor Society Beta Beta Beta and the National Premedical Honor Society Alpha Epsilon Delta.

Doctor's Pavilion opens in Natchez

The Doctor’s Pavilion, a doctors’ building next to Natchez Regional Medical Center in Natchez, recently opened. The pavilion officially opened the offices of Internal Medicine Associates and Dr. Frank Guedon on the third floor. The rest of the building is still in the last stages of construction.