News Around the State

King’s Daughter Medical Center named Hospital of the Year by Mississippi Blood Services

(Pictured left to right): Jennifer Jackson, director of marketing and public relations and hospital blood drive chairperson; Glenn Davis, Interim CEO and Georgia Myers, Administrative Assistant to the CEO, accepted Mississippi Blood Services’ Hospital of the Year award on behalf of King’s Daughters Medical Center.

Mississippi Blood Services (MBS) recently named King’s Daughter Medical Center (KDMC) as Hospital of the Year for 2006 at an awards ceremony in Jackson.

“King’s Daughters Medical Center does an outstanding job of promoting blood donation in the community,” Kelly Scrivner, MBS manager of communications and public relations, said. “By listing the Mississippi Blood Services’ drawing station in newspaper announcements and advertising other community drives held at the hospital on the radio, they further demonstrate their commitment to saving lives in the Brookhaven community.

“The hospital encourages their staff to participate in blood drives with special incentives and door prizes,” Scrivner added. “Blood drives at the hospital have consistently been well attended and help Mississippi Blood Services meet the needs of patients being treated there.”

Mississippi Blood Services supplied the hospital with nearly 1,800 units of blood components in 2006. These needs were met in part by the almost 800 units of blood collected at the hospital. Other drives were also held in the community throughout the year in support of the hospital.

“We are honored to have received this award. But it’s the donors, many of which are KDMC employees, that make our donor site so successful,” said Jennifer Jackson, KDMC director of marketing and public relations and hospital blood drive chairperson. “This is a very 'giving' community; people are always willing to help others. Providing the drawing station is just another way the hospital can fulfill our mission of providing quality health and wellness to the people in our community.”

Baptist Nutrition Support Services Clinicians and Physicians Speak at National Conference

(Pictured left to right) Dietician Jenny Prestridge, RD, Baptist Pharmacist Phil Ayers, PharmD Tim Cannon, MD, and Fred Parker, MD, presented a program entitled Basic Building Blocks for a Nutrition Support Team.

Baptist’s nutrition support services presented an educational symposium during the Clinical Nutrition Week in Phoenix last month. Clinical Nutrition Week is an international scientific and clinical conference dedicated to specialized nutrition support.

The lecture reviewed the success of a multidisciplinary team at Baptist, describe the role of key members as well as methods to utilize and optimize a nutrition support service.
br> The Nutrition Support Service at Baptist is a consult service available for the medical staff and patients. This service is involved in the assessment and monitoring of patients who are malnourished or at risk for malnutrition. The team provides specialized nutrition to patients via the intravenous route or per feeding tubes.

Forrest General's Spirit Girls Visit Alden Pointe

Forrest General’s Spirit Girls crowded around Alden Pointe resident Mimi Peterson and her daughter Cathy Smith during their tour. Pictured are, left to right: Kayla Purvis, Dalee Kimble, Mary Lois Hanna, Caitlin Churchwell, Reagan Dunnam, Nicole Newsome, Krystin McCurley, Madison Garner, Priscilla Hogan, Anne Caroline Lovitt, Lauren Link and Sara Sanner.

Forrest General Hospital and Turtle Creek Mall’s Spirit Girls, a program of Forrest General’s Spirit of Women, participated in a tour of Alden Pointe Assisted Living Facility. The Spirit Girls introduced and told a little about themselves to the residents. While at Alden Pointe, the girls sang songs to the residents. “I think it was wonderful that these girls took time out of their lives and visited with each of our residents,” said Lillie Meggs, Activity Director at Alden Pointe.

“Taking time and teaching these young girls the true benefit of community service is wonderful and a valuable lifetime lesson,” said Millie Swan, Director of Physician and Public Relations and Director of Spirit of Women at Forrest General. “This program gives the girls a drive to do better and to excel in their lives,” said Swan.

“Each girl selected a resident to become pen pals with during their visit. They will write letters, send cards, and it will give them an opportunity to get to know our residents,” said Meggs. “It gave the residents a chance to socialize with these young girls,” said Meggs. “This event truly lifted the resident’s spirits. “

Spirit Girls, part of Forrest General’s Spirit of Women, is a teen modeling program with the mission to reach young women through events targeted at promoting self-esteem and healthy lifestyles. Spirit Girls consists of young ladies in 7th through 12th grades from throughout Forrest General’s 17-county service area.

Spirit Girls participate in Spirit of Women programs and events, including focus groups, community and other charitable events throughout the year.

Spirit of Women Hospital Network is a national coalition of hospitals and health care facilities in over 55 U.S. cities joined together to advance the cause and business of women’s health. Spirit of Women is a national movement - more than just a media campaign or a series of events, but a movement led by hospitals across the United States and supported by corporate partners and national media with the mission to move women to take action for better health…mind, body and spirit.

Carlton named marketing/development director at HMC

Tom Carlton is the new marketing/development director at Hancock Medical Center. For the past eight years, Carlton was the public relations coordinator at Garden Park Medical Center in Gulfport.

HMC receives honorable mention

Hancock Medical Center in Bay St. Louis, MS, received honorable mention in the CARES category of Modern Healthcare’s 2006 Spirit of Excellence Awards. The honorable mention award recognized Hancock Medical’s staff for its effort to reopen the hospital following Hurricane Katrina.

Tate named Trustee of the Year by Modern Healthcare

William A. Tate III, president of the Hancock Medical Center Board of Trustees, was named Trustee of the Year by Modern Healthcare magazine in its Feb. 12 issue. Tate, a resident of Bay St. Louis, was cited for his leadership during the hospital’s recovery since Hurricane Katrina’s devastating blow in 2005.

Despite having to deal with the loss of his own home in the hurricane, Tate and the rest of the seven-member Hancock Board has helped the medical center navigate many challenges on its road to recovery after Katrina’s storm surge flooded the first floor of the county hospital and caused more than $20 million in damage.

Tate became president of the Hancock Board in 2002. For 15 years he managed a firm that oversaw site maintenance at Stennis Space Center. He retired in 1997 and has been a member of the Hancock Medical Board of Trustees since 1987. He plans to be back in his Bay St. Louis home by his 70th birthday on March 30. Other members of the Hancock Medical Board of Trustees are Robert H. Baxter, Charley “Dusty” Rhodes, David Peranich, Gerard Boos, J. Larry Ladner and Bryon Griffith. The hospital administrator is Hal W. Leftwich.

Forrest General Hospital Names New Director of Pine Grove Outpatient Clinics

Laura Miley has been named Director of Pine Grove Outpatient Clinics. She is the director of four outpatient programs at the Lincoln Center - the South Mississippi Psychiatric Group, FGH Psychology Services, Pine Grove Professional Enhancement Program and FGH Employee Assistance Program.

Miley has worked at Forrest General for 19 years. Prior to assuming her present role, she served Forrest General for more than nine years as a registered nurse and patient care coordinator, and almost 10 years as the Director of Clinical Information Systems where she successfully led the implementation of the Electronic Medical Record at FGH.

Miley is a member of the Health Information Management Systems Society, and in 1999 was named to the International Who’s Who of Information Technology. Miley and her husband, Jason, have two children, Whitley and Dustin. The Miley family is actively involved in the Good Hope Baptist Church in Purvis, Miss.

SRHS honors January Employees of the Month

Singing River Hospital System recently honored its January Employees of the Month. Singing River Hospital named Darrell Byrd, Plant Operator, Facilities Support, as the Employee of the Month, and Ocean Springs Hospital named Nell Seymour, Radiology Clerk Typist, as Employee of the Month.

Byrd is a graduate of Pascagoula High School and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. In 2001, Byrd began his career at Signing River Hospital in Facilities Support and has remained there since.

"I've learned a lot since joining the hospital," said Byrd. "I feel that other departments are our customers, and I try to respond to their needs in a professional and courteous manner."

Seymour is a graduate of Vancleave High School and has worked at Ocean Springs Hospital since 1982. She has worked in several different departments, including Environmental Services, Two West and now Radiology.

"I love my job," said Seymour. "I enjoy meeting the patients and if you can make just one patient feel a little bit better, then I think you've accomplished something."

NMSH names Employee of the Quarter

Charles Covington has been named Employee of the Quarter at North Mississippi State Hospital in Tupelo. Covington has been a member of the security staff for nearly six years. In making the presentation, NMSH Director Paul A. Callens stated, "Charles has been a dedicated employee. His work ethic and his willingness to help both patients and staff are commendable."

Covington attended Hunt High School in Columbus and Rust College in Holly Springs. He previously worked in Loss Prevention at Sears in Tupelo. NMSH is a facility of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health.

DiFatta named named Licensed Clinical Services Employee of the Year at MSH

Anthony DiFatta of Jackson has been named Mississippi State Hospital’s (MSH) 2006 Employee of the Year for Licensed Clinical Services. DiFatta, a Hattiesburg, Miss. native, is an art instructor in the hospital’s Rehabilitation Services Division and has been employed at MSH for five years. DiFatta, who works daily with MSH patients, Jaquith Nursing Home residents and individuals served in MSH’s Community Services program, has been described by co-workers as trustworthy, loyal and dependable.

“You can always count on Tony to get the job done on time every time with the highest standard of quality,” said MSH Director James G. Chastain during the hospital’s annual Employee of the Year program. “He is a team player who willingly collaborates with other staff to accomplish common goals and objectives.”

DiFatta is also described as being articulate, open, flexible and willing to consider new ideas, approaches and solutions.

“He is willing to sacrifice personal time to meet team objectives or finish projects or tasks,” Chastain said. “He always places the needs of patients and residents first, whether working long hours, supporting sister facilities and programs, or working after hours and on weekends. He is truly committed to the job and profession, and completely dedicated to both clients and colleagues. You can always count on Tony to give 110 percent.”

DiFatta studied painting and sculpture at the University of Southern Mississippi. Following a stint as a graphic designer for MCI WorldCom, he pursued painting full time in 2000.

In 2002, DiFatta began teaching art to adults with severe mental illnesses through MSH’s Rehabilitation Services Department and the Community Services Division’s Stubbs Homeless Program.

DiFatta is also involved with several nonprofit charity and historical preservation organizations. His work can be found in collections throughout the United States and several other countries. He was the official artist for the 2005 Crossroads Film Festival and Jubilee!JAM Music Festival.

The MSH Employee of the Year recognition program is sponsored by Friends of Mississippi State Hospital, Inc., a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to helping provide enrichment programs not otherwise possible for patients, nursing home residents and individuals served in the community.