News Around the State

Nurse receives Employee of the Quarter at KDMC

(From left) KDMC’s Chief Executive Officer Alvin Hoover, Becky Falvey, RN and Chief Nursing Officer Merlene

King’s Daughters Medical Center recently announced the Employee of the Quarter for the third quarter of this year – issuing the award to Becky Falvey, RN.

Falvey has been with KDMC for more than 12 years and currently functions in the role of Clinical Nurse Specialist. She works with patients regarding their care and discharge in the majority of the hospital’s clinical areas.

Falvey will be considered among a total of four Employees of the Quarter for the distinction as 2007 Employee of the Year, which will be announced in early 2008. The honor of Employee of the Year is given by previous employees who earned the same distinction in the past.

JNH resident celebrates 100 years

The year 1907 is noted for several things: the Hoover vacuum cleaner was invented; Maytag introduced the first wooden tub washing machine; the state of Oklahoma was admitted to the Union as the 46th state; the Chicago Cubs defeated the Detroit Tigers to win the World Series; and Hershey’s Kisses were introduced.

Also, there was one other event that occurred in 1907 that recently caused a celebration at Jaquith Nursing Home’s (JNH) Jefferson Inn. Resident David Ladner was born Oct. 24, 1907 in the Rose Hill Community near Columbia. To celebrate his 100th birthday, Jefferson Inn staff gave him a party, complete with hamburgers, hotdogs, potato chips, cake, ice cream, punch and presents. Staff decorated the building with helium balloons and streamers, joined in with residents to sing Happy Birthday, and presented Ladner with gifts, including toy farm tractors to remind him of his days of doing farm work before coming to Jaquith in 1975.

"I am thankful for my staff who involve themselves in the residents' lives,” said Jefferson Inn Administrator Lee Varner. “They came to me requesting Mr. Ladner receive a party for his 100th year and helped make all the arrangements for the big day. We had a great time celebrating Mr. Ladner's birthday together. That's what families do!"

JNH Director Marc Lewis also stopped by the party to congratulate Ladner.

"It is our pleasure to honor any resident who has experienced such a full life,” Lewis said. “Each of our residents is a special person who deserves to be recognized for the individual contributions their life has made."

In addition to the party favors, Ladner was presented a congratulatory letter from Gale Martin, executive director of the Rankin County Chamber of Commerce, and a certificate from Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck and state Sen. Dean Kirby.

Hospital Foundation Board welcomes new members; elects officers

The King’s Daughters Medical Center Foundation Board started a new year in October by welcoming new board members and electing officers. Officers are (seated from left) Shannon Clark, Vice President; Susan Aycock, President; Terri Moak, Secretary and (not pictured) Pat Lowery, CPA as Treasurer. New members included (standing from left) Harriett Proffitt, Beth Breeland, Martha Arrington, Kristi Sessums, Martha Lofton, Mary Lu Redd and Cindy Hyde-Smith.

Dr. Conn offers new hip resurfacing technology

Richard A. Conn, M.D. (right) talks with his patient Orville Todd, who was the first patient in the U.S. to undergo the hip resurfacing procedure with the Stryker Cormet Hip Resurfacing Procedure since FDA approval

With over 43 million Americans suffering from arthritis, total hip replacement surgery is not an uncommon procedure. Now, an alternative to total hip replacement surgery allows patients to resume many of the activities they enjoyed pre-operatively, while conserving more of their natural bone and helping minimize their risk of dislocation.

Dr. Richard Conn, Orthopaedic Surgeon with Southern Bone & Joint Specialists, P.A. was the first physician in the United States to perform a hip resurfacing procedure with the Cormet Hip Resurfacing System, offered exclusively by Stryker in the US, since receiving FDA approval. "I think the Cormet Hip Resurfacing system is poised to be a key option for me as a hip surgeon in the treatment of my younger, more active arthritic hip patients," said Dr. Conn.

The Cormet Hip Resurfacing System provides patients with two important benefits. First, patients have more of their natural bone preserved. In this innovative process, the end of the thigh bone, or femur, is capped with a strong metal covering - much like the capping of a tooth. Because the femoral head is simply reshaped and “resurfaced” rather than removed, the procedure is bone conserving. Secondly, the large diameter femoral head may reduce the risk of dislocation, and often provides a more natural performance than traditional total hip arthroplasty1. Dr. Conn believes this hip system is the right choice for many of his patients.

"With the very large heads of this femoral resurfacing system, it gives you inherent stability and also improves the potential for greater motion and mobility, therefore allowing individuals to be more active and do more things,” said Conn. Mr. Orville Todd, 60, was the first patient to have the procedure. “I had hip pain for about five years, and it just kept getting worse. Finally it got to the point where I couldn't stand it anymore, said Todd." “It made my job difficult -- the longer the day went, the more I'd hurt." Since the surgery Mr. Todd has a new lease on life. "I can do most anything now, he said." "Knowing what I know now, I would have gone in for this three years ago. It seems like it's going to be a long-term solution for me."

Should the implant need replacing at some time in the future, a conventional total hip replacement can typically be used. This makes hip resurfacing an attractive option for younger and more active osteoarthritis patients.

Interest in hip resurfacing procedures is on the rise globally due to the bone-conserving nature of the procedure and anticipated potential benefits related to post-operative activities and range of motion. In these procedures, surgeons replace the hip socket in much the same way as a conventional total hip, but the femoral head is resurfaced rather than removed. Hip resurfacing is viewed by many surgeons as an alternative to traditional total hip replacement to help patients return to their active lifestyles. “By selecting the right patient and using the training we’ve received, this procedure will be a successful treatment option for many patients,” said Conn.

Jim Dagg, Director of Diagnostic Services at Wesley Medical Center made an appointment with Dr. Conn after suffering from hip pain for years and is now scheduled for the hip resurfacing procedure on November 9. “I’ve worked in healthcare my entire career,” said Dagg. “I know a great doctor when I see one and I’ve done my homework. Dr. Conn is the only physician I would trust with my hip surgery.” Mr. Todd agrees, “Dr. Conn was great – I’d recommend him to anybody.

Since performing the first procedure with the Cormet Hip Resurfacing System, Dr. Conn has used the system on an additional 10 patients. “Our patients’ results have been really strong, which makes for very satisfied patients and a very pleased physician,” said Conn. Dr. Conn trained with the surgeons who designed the Cormet Hip Resurfacing System in England, and he is a member of the surgeon-training group for the Cormet Hip having trained more than 40 physicians from across the country on how to select the appropriate patient for this procedure and how to perform the procedure.

Mr. Ron Seal, CEO for Wesley Medical Center is proud to add another “first” to the hospital’s list of services and technologies available for patients. “Dr. Conn has always been on the cutting edge of new procedures, product development and technologies in the field of Orthopaedics,” said Seal. “It makes us proud that he is pleased with the service and care we can help him provide to his patients here at Wesley Medical Center.”

Medical Center physicians prove mettle in “ironman” triathlon

Dr. George Russell, left, associate professor of orthopedics at UMC, and Dr. Larry Creswell, associate professor of surgery at UMC, joined 1,100 people around the world and 81 other Americans to complete the ironman triathlon in New Zealand.

A 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile marathon may seem unreachable goals for most. Each task would be a major accomplishment in itself, but to finish all three in one day might appear impossible.

Not so for two doctors at the University of Mississippi Medical Center who have completed the grueling task to become “ironmen.” They even have plans to do it again.

Several years ago, Dr. Larry Creswell, associate professor of surgery, and Dr. George Russell, associate professor of orthopedics, didn’t consider themselves to be the “healthiest guys on the block.” They probably would have laughed at the idea of completing a triathlon, let alone an ironman.

“I moved here four years ago from St. Louis and I was anything but healthy,” Creswell said. “I turned 40 years old right before I moved here and I told myself I would try to be healthier.

“I came here with that in mind and I started to exercise and eat healthier. I swam for exercise and I lost about 75 pounds.”

Russell started bicycling a few years ago to get into shape. He lost about 20 pounds. He suggested to Creswell that they start biking together.

“We would bicycle on the Natchez Trace and Highland Colony Parkway,” Creswell said. “One day, I saw George in the OR. He said, ‘Larry, we are going to do a triathlon. ’

“I never run, not even to the mailbox.”

In January 2005, the two began training for that June’s Heatwave Triathlon – a half-mile swim in the Ross Barnett Reservoir, a 24-and-a-half-mile bike ride along the Natchez Trace Parkway and a 6.2-mile run.

“We gave ourselves six months,” Creswell said. “I began running two minutes at a time and that was all that I could do.”

When June rolled around, Russell and Walker completed the Heatwave and they were hooked. Russell then had another idea. “Let’s do a half-ironman,” he told Creswell.

“We both have jobs that are time consuming and unpredictable, so we worked on training before work every day,” Creswell said. “We got up at 4:15 a.m. every day and we would use the weekend to try to do the longer training. ”

The two set off to Miami in November 2005, less than a year after they had decided to do their first triathlon.

“We had a great time in Miami,” Creswell said. “While there, we decided that we would try to do a whole ironman.”

They chose to do the ironman in New Zealand in March 2007, mainly because it would be a relatively gentle course, according to Creswell.

“There are 24 of these races around the world and we committed to do this about Christmas 2005,” Creswell said. “We gave ourselves a little bit of a rest and then started to train.”

They tackled more runs, joined the Catfish Masters swim team and continued to increase their bike mileage.

On March 3, the two doctors joined 1,100 people around the world and 81 other Americans to complete the ironman in New Zealand.

They started at 7 a.m. and finished about 14-and-a-half hours later. Their times were only about 12 minutes apart.

“You get to the finish line and there are about 3,000 people cheering you on. It’s really something,” Creswell said.

Creswell and Russell are planning to participate in another ironman in April – this time in South Africa. “It’s all about the adventure,” said Russell.

They both agree everyone can participate if they put their minds to it.

“The dream is obviously reachable. Putting your mind to any challenge and finding out what you have to do for it to come true is just an incredible feeling,” Creswell said.

“I think the only difficulty is the discipline and the training to get it done,” said Russell. “You have to be willing. It’s like a second job.”

Breland joins Miss. State Hospital administration

Kelly R. Breland has been named director of Support Services at Mississippi State Hospital (MSH). In his new role, Breland will supervise financial, information management, personnel, maintenance and environmental services operations at the nation’s largest public psychiatric treatment facility.

Breland, who earned a bachelor’s degree in accountancy and an MBA from Mississippi College, served as director of Support Services at the Mississippi Department of Mental Health’s Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility in Brookhaven before joining the MSH staff.

“We’re very pleased to recruit someone with the professional experience and background of Kelly,” said MSH Director James G. Chastain. “He has excellent leadership skills and is very enthusiastic about the opportunity to manage some of our key support services and programs.”

Breland is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant by the Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to work at a facility with such excellent staff and programs,” Breland said. “It’s a beautiful campus and a great environment to continue my healthcare administration career.”

Breland lives in Clinton with his wife Tobi and son Blair.

MSH celebrates National Healthcare Quality Week

Karen Warner (first row, second from left), MSH quality management director, presents a proclamation from Gov. Haley Barbour to MSH Director James G. Chastain. Gov. Barbour has proclaimed Oct. 21-27 as Healthcare Quality Week in Mississippi. Other MSH and Jaquith Nursing Home (JNH) administrators were on hand at the presentation, including: (first row, left to right) Kelly Breland, director of support services; Warner; Chastain; Cyndi Nail, Whitfield Medical Surgical Hospital administrator; Dr. Suzanne Jourdan, clinical services administrator; Greg Nail, director of inpatient services; (second row, left to right) John Pace, patient advocate; Dr. Lydia Weisser, clinical director; Marc Lewis, JNH director; Dr. Duncan Stone, chief of medical staff; and Paula Kleeb, director of service outcome.

Mississippi State Hospital (MSH), along with the Mississippi Association for Healthcare Quality (MsAHQ), an affiliate of the National Association of Healthcare Quality (NAHQ), is celebrating National Healthcare Quality Week, Oct. 21-27. The week celebrates the work of quality professionals in healthcare and highlights their influence in achieving improved outcomes of patient care and healthcare delivery systems to administrators, allied health professionals, and the public. Gov. Haley Barbour has officially proclaimed the week as Healthcare Quality Week in Mississippi.

MSH has 10 employees who are members of MsAHQ, two of whom are officers for 2007/2008. Karen Warner, CPHQ, MSH quality management department director, serves as president, and John Pace, MSH patient advocate, serves as secretary. They are also members of the national organization.

The mission of MsAHQ, which was founded in 1984, is to be the advanced leader in quality in the healthcare industry by promoting the use of quality principles and practices in healthcare organizations and supporting the growth and development of healthcare quality professionals. The vision is that MsAHQ will be recognized by leaders of healthcare organizations and by healthcare quality professionals as Mississippi's premier source of expertise in healthcare quality.

Membership includes multiple disciplines, including nurses, social workers, dietitians, health information professionals, physicians, pharmacists and rehabilitation therapists. Various healthcare settings are represented, such as acute care hospitals, long term care, mental health, home health, ambulatory care, regulatory agencies and payors/managed care.

Each year, MsAHQ holds two educational conferences that provide educational and state-wide networking opportunities. Also, the organization publishes newsletters that focus on "hot topics" in healthcare quality, state and federal regulations, and professional issues.

Warner said MSH benefits from employees’ involvement in the healthcare quality organizations.

“By attending educational conferences, we are able to bring new ideas back for consideration at MSH and stay up-to-date with state and national trends in the top issues in healthcare regulations, monitoring, and quality issues,” Warner said. “In addition, our participation results in better understanding of healthcare quality, processes and regulations, which improves our efforts to measure the care the patients of MSH receive. Quality measures are used by hospital leadership in making decisions and staying abreast of standards compliance.”

Warner said there are benefits to networking with other professionals.

“By networking with state and national members, MSH employees learn of barriers and successes in other organizations,” she said. “Employees also gain confidence from realizing that MSH is as knowledgeable as others in keeping up with the requirements of quality monitoring.

“MSH has hosted the MsAHQ conference twice,” Warner said. “This allows members to see the MSH campus and learn more about the care offered at the hospital.”

The NAHQ is the nation's leading organization for healthcare quality professionals. Founded in 1976, NAHQ currently comprises more than 5,000 individual members and 100 institutional members. Its goal is to promote the continuous improvement of quality in healthcare by providing educational and development opportunities for professionals at all management levels and within all healthcare settings.

MSH celebrates National Pharmacy Week

National Hospital & Health-System Pharmacy Week, Oct. 21-27, is a celebration during American Pharmacists Month – October – that focuses on the important contributions made by pharmacists and technicians to promote the safety and well-being of patients in the nation’s health care institutions. Joining in the celebration are Mississippi State Hospital Pharmacy staff members: (first row, l-r) Wanda Berry, pharmacy technician; Nita Turner, pharmacist; Stella Odogwu, pharmacist; Angela Huff, pharmacy technician; Mary Moore, pharmacy technician; Talitha Bennett, pharmacist; Lisa Thames-Payton, pharmacy technician; (second row, l-r) Vicki Veazey, pharmacy director; Dr. Victor Dostrow, medical director; Sheila Cantrell, pharmacist; Gene Barlow, pharmacist; Matthew Phalen, courier; Martha McSherry, pharmacist; Martha Fincher, pharmacist; Bryant Smith, pharmacist; and Joseph Dickerson, pharmacy technician. Not pictured: Teresa Russell and Sylvester Huntley, pharmacy technicians.

MSH participates in NAMI Walk

MHS’s Community Services’ NAMI WALK team members include (first row, l-r) Arthur M.; Perry Williams; Janett Williams, social worker; Wayne M.; Dr. Cynthia Johnson, director of Community Services; Keith J.; Melanie M.; (second row, l-r) Charles F.; Ernest Miller, active treatment technician; Latron Evans, vocational training instructor; and Wendell Crawford, vocational training instructor.

An unseasonably warm fall morning and a peaceful lake surrounded by a wooded park provided the perfect setting Saturday, Oct. 6 for the 2007 NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) Mississippi Walk. Several hundred individuals, including persons served by MSH’s Community Services Program, laced up their walking shoes at Jackson’s Mayes Lake to take part in one of 60 walks across the nation designed to raise money for NAMI programs and raise awareness about mental illness in hopes of eliminating the stigma associated with the disease.

“Both the staff members and our clients understand the value of NAMI and the support that they provide individuals with mental illness and their families,” said Dr. Cynthia Johnson, director of MSH’s Community Services program. “As a result, this is a time that we – both staff and clients – can come together as a community and support NAMI in ending the stigma associated with mental illness.”

Ann Jensen, program specialist for NAMI, said mental illness is treatable, but stigma discourages many people from seeking help.

“We’re here bringing awareness to mental illness,” Jensen said. “Our message has always been that we want to stop the stigma surrounding mental illness.”

Don Wayne, program director for Radio Station Jack FM, said he was proud to be able to help by playing music and providing door prizes for the walkers.

“I think NAMI is a great organization and we at Jack FM would like to be considered part sponsors for NAMI Walks for years to come,” he said.

Wayne M., an MSH Community Services consumer, said he participated in the walk because as a person affected by mental illness, he realizes how important NAMI’s efforts are.

“We’re trying to educate people that they can get better and live a normal life,” Wayne said. “NAMI has programs that teach people how to stay well and how to stay out of the hospital. They teach coping skills, and if you use this information, you can get better.

“However, you can have all the information in the world, but unless you apply it, it won’t do any good,” Wayne said. “Stigma is a roadblock that we all have to get over in order to get the help we need.”

Community Services client Melanie M. said she doesn’t understand why there is a stigma associated with mental illness because it is treatable just like any other disease.

“If it were not for things like the NAMI Walk that draw attention to the needs of the mentally ill, we may not ever know that those needs are there,” Melanie said. “Everyone has a need. You’ll treat someone with diabetes or heart disease, but people with emotional needs should have their needs met also.”

Arthur M., another Community Services client, said he gave up his Saturday morning to walk because he knows how important NAMI is.

“I think the NAMI Walk is very important for those with mental illness,” he said. “We have to overcome the stigma.”

NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has become the nation’s voice on mental illness with organizations in every state and in over 1,100 local communities across the country who join together to meet the NAMI mission through advocacy, research, support, and education. All of the funds raised during the NAMI Mississippi Walk are used to serve those affected by mental illness in the state.

Jaquith and MSH participate in Alzheimer's Walk

JNH/MSH Memory Walk team members include: (left to right) Jarrod Ravencraft, MSH Strategic Planning Director; Dr. Bud Weisser; Dr. Lydia Weisser, MSH Clinical Director; Alex Weisser; Marc Lewis, JNH Director, Jennifer Varner, LPN for JNH’s Monroe Inn; Jaden Varner and Lee Varner, Nursing Home Administrator for JNH’s Jefferson Inn.

Administrators and staff of Jaquith Nursing Home (JNH) and Mississippi State Hospital (MSH) put on their walking shoes Saturday, Oct. 6 in support of the Mississippi Alzheimer's Association’s 2007 Memory Walk. Registration for this inspiring, family-oriented community event began at 9 a.m. with the walk starting at 10 at St. James Episcopal Church in Jackson.

According to Chere Stegall, director of Special Events for the Mississippi Alzheimer’s Association and Memory Walk coordinator, there were 31 teams registered with approximately 150 walkers.

Memory Walk is the national signature fund-raising event of the Alzheimer’s Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer research, care and support. Walks are conducted in more than 600 communities, usually on a weekend morning in the fall, and a typical walk is 2 to 3 miles. Since 1989, Memory Walk has raised more than $225 million to help fight Alzheimer’s disease, but according to Stegall, the walk is also about building awareness.

“Every 72 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and people just aren’t aware of that,” she said. “This is a great way to get the community involved and to help them understand about this rapidly growing disease.”

Approximately 5.1 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s, including 52,000 Mississippians. A recent Gallup poll indicated that 1 in 10 Americans said that they had a family member with the disease and 1 in 3 knew of someone with Alzheimer’s. The Mississippi Alzheimer’s Association is coordinating their efforts along with the National Alzheimer’s Association to encourage people to become more aware of this dreaded disease.

“We’re especially looking to make younger people more aware,” said Dennis Sharp, board president for the Mississippi Alzheimer’s Association. “We’re encouraging everyone to take action to move this disease forward in terms of research and conquering the problems that come from it.”

Statistics show that nursing homes in Mississippi have the third highest percentage in the nation of individuals suffering from moderate to severe symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

“Alzheimer's disease affects the lives of many of our residents and their families,” said JNH Director Marc Lewis. “We participate in the annual Memory Walk in honor of our residents and their families whose lives are affected by the disease.”

Although Alzheimer’s most often occurs in persons over 65 years of age, it can also happen at an earlier age.

“Anywhere between the ages of 30 and 65 is called early onset and anything over 65 is late onset,” said Barbara Dobrosky, program director for the Mississippi Alzheimer’s Association. “There are approximately 500,000 people suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s. They have the same stages and warning signs, it just happens at an earlier age.”

Caring for a friend or family member who suffers from Alzheimer’s can certainly bring about challenges for the caregiver, but according to Sharon Watson, an advanced caregiver at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison, technique and approach are the most important factors.

“If you will be patient, approach them gently and try to help them reminisce about their past, they will usually come back around,” she said.

Stegall expressed appreciation to JNH and MSH for their support of the Memory Walk and their commitment to helping fight Alzheimer’s.

Persons interested in joining the fight against Alzheimer’s disease can contact the Mississippi Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association at (601) 987-0020.